Stronger Ukraine trade relations seen to benefit Philippines IT industry

MANILA, Philippines — The country’s information technology (IT) industry and its push for government digitalization stand to gain from deeper trade relations with Ukraine, a Kyiv-based developmental organization said.

Victor Liakh, president of  East Europe Foundation, said Manila and Kyiv may see opportunities in improving their IT industry, as well as support the Philippines’ goal to streamline government processes.

“We have a lot of opportunities in advancing our IT sector and producing IT products together. Ukraine advanced our GovTech technologies and demonstrated the progress in e-governance and e-participation even during the time of war,” he told The STAR on the sidelines of the Kyiv-Manila Strategic Dialogue.

He added that Ukraine’s more advanced IT sector could help the Philippines strengthen its own industry as it could save the country about two to three years of development.

“We work with international corporations and provide them with products and with solutions, not just being a sourcing country,” he said.

Ukraine has ranked fifth in the United Nations’ e-governance development index and first in e-participation, according to Liakh.

He added that Ukraine is also ready to support the Philippines’ digitalization drive, including enhancements to the country’s eGovPH platform.

“We can add additional boost for applications or ecosystems like eGovPH, for example, we can put it on steroids and develop all possible services,” Liakh said.

Meanwhile, he added that the Philippines could serve as an avenue to widen Ukraine’s market within Southeast Asia.

He also said that Ukraine can act as another gateway for Philippine based companies to expand in Europe, noting Kyiv’s intention to join the European Union.

“We potentially can be a member state, that’s also a good opportunity for the Philippine companies to come to Europe,” Liakh said.

In terms of agriculture, Ateneo de Manila economics professor and Tariff Commission member Marissa Paderon said the Philippines must align its regulatory measures with Ukraine to hurdle trade barriers.

“It needs to be harmonized particularly in respect to the Philippines’ own sanitary and phytosanitary measures. In the potential Philippines-Ukraine framework the focus should be on regulatory alignment,” she said during the same forum.

Paderon added that the agricultural sector remains sensitive to high tariff rates.

She noted that the conclusion of the EU free trade agreement with the Philippines could facilitate the harmonization of Manila and Kyiv’s regulatory requirements.