Phl seen as prime market for Israeli cybersecurity firms

The Philippines is emerging as one of the most attractive markets in Asia for Israeli cybersecurity firms, according to top Israeli officials, who see the country’s growing digital transformation, coupled with shared security challenges, as fertile ground for innovation, partnerships, and investment.

The remarks came during the Philippines–Israel Cybersecurity Forum: Advancing Innovation & Strengthening Cyber Resilience, hosted by the Embassy of Israel in the Philippines.

The event gathered government leaders, cybersecurity experts, and eight leading Israeli cybersecurity companies that showcased their solutions and engaged in one-on-one business talks with Filipino stakeholders.

Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) official Julius Gorospe delivered the keynote, noting that the government is forging stronger partnerships with law enforcement and the private sector to ensure cybercriminals are brought to justice.

He also revealed that multiple legislators have filed measures to strengthen cybersecurity, including a Cybersecurity Bill.

“Day by day, we make great strides toward digital transformation on the national level,” Gorospe said.

Israel’s playbook

In a sit-down interview with DAILY TRIBUNE, Ofek Venecianer, head of the Israel Economic Mission to the Philippines, and Ester Buzgan, Deputy Ambassador of Israel to the Philippines, shared why Israel is betting big on the Philippine cybersecurity market.

“We’re basically the business development arm of the Israeli government. The interest from Israeli companies in the Philippine market is one of the highest [we’ve seen]. They understand the potential in the market,” Venecianer said.

He explained that their mission is twofold: to introduce Israeli companies to the Philippine market and make the Philippine market aware of Israeli capabilities. “We believe in knowledge-sharing. This session is really to invite our partners, colleagues, to really understand the perspective of the companies… To really understand how we can collaborate and take this eventual partnership one step further.”

For Buzgan, Israel’s edge comes from necessity.

“We don’t have a choice. If we don’t protect ourselves, nobody will. This is what made our companies think outside the box. If you cannot go through the door, you go through the window.”

Shared threats, shared solutions

Asked whether Israel’s cybersecurity concerns differ from those of the Philippines, Buzgan stressed the similarities.

“[W]e’re facing the same threats, the same axis of threats. The way to solve issues in cybersecurity is sharing information... that’s what helps governments govern together to find solutions to specific attacks or to be aware of different acts of penetration.”

Venecianer added that Israeli cybersecurity solutions cover a wide spectrum — from cloud data protection to securing physical devices. “For them (the companies), the Philippines is the next big market... not just in business potential but also in the cultural perspective... Philippines is so warm, welcoming, family-oriented, so it’s very easy for Israelis to come into the Philippines and feel at home.