The Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) is ramping up its efforts to attract strategic foreign direct investments (FDIs) from the European Union, with a recent mission to Poland unlocking high-value leads in green technology, data infrastructure, and advanced manufacturing.

Backed by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), the investment mission was carried out in coordination with the Polish Investment and Trade Agency (PAIH), the Philippine Embassy in Poland, and the Philippine Trade and Investment Center (PTIC) in Berlin.

Held amid ongoing negotiations for a Philippine-European Union free trade agreement, the week-long mission featured business forums and bilateral meetings in Warsaw and Gdansk, and generated promising investor interest, particularly in emerging sectors such as renewable energy-powered data centers and advanced air and water purification systems.

One of the key investment prospects is a consortium of Polish, American, and Filipino firms eyeing a €60 million data center project integrated with clean energy and water desalination technologies. The group is considering Camarines Norte for the pilot site, with potential for further expansion to two other ecozone locations.

A second lead involves a Polish start-up that developed a photocatalytic membrane technology – an advanced, filterless system for purifying air and water – currently undergoing pilot testing on a farm in Mindanao. The company is looking to scale manufacturing operations in the Philippines for broader Southeast Asian market access.

The Warsaw forum was opened by Philippine Ambassador to Poland Leah Basinang-Ruiz and attended by representatives from PAIH, PTIC-Berlin, and the Szczecin Honorary Consulate, as well as a delegation of Polish investors. In Gdansk, PEZA partnered with regional investment bodies such as Invest in Pomerania and the Polish Economic Zone to explore cross-border collaboration and best practice sharing.

Site visits to Intel’s R&D center in Gdansk, the University of Gdansk, and the Baltic Container Terminal in Gdynia – operated by Filipino multinational ICTSI – underscored Poland’s growing reputation as an EU tech and logistics hub. PEZA noted opportunities for academic collaboration and innovation exchange, particularly in the electronics and maritime sectors.

PEZA currently hosts over 300 EU-based locator companies – with a combined investment of more than P400 billion – employing over half a million Filipinos. Poland is represented by one firm in the IT-BPM space, but PEZA is optimistic that interest will grow in light of these recent engagements.

DTI Secretary Ma. Cristina Roque emphasized the government’s assertive push to deepen EU ties: “We are not merely participants in this transformation – we are leading the charge.”

In 2024, two-way trade between the Philippines and Poland totaled over USD620 million, with Poland exporting agricultural goods, machinery, and paper products, and importing Philippine electronics. Notably, Poland is the primary source of Black Hawk helicopters for the Philippines’ defense modernization program.

Both economies have remained resilient and forward-looking – Philippine GDP expanded by 5.6 percent while Poland posted a 3.0 percent growth rate in 2024 – positioning them as natural partners in Europe-Asia trade corridors.