Insider Spotlight
Taiwan Expo Philippines 2026, scheduled for Sept. 17 to 19 at the SMX Convention Center Manila, will put those technologies at the center of its Green and Innovation Showcase.
More than 125 Taiwanese exhibitors are participating across technology, sustainability, agriculture, healthcare and lifestyle.
Direct applications
The technologies have direct applications to communities outside the Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao grids, where conventional grid extension can be challenging.
Battery energy storage can form part of power systems serving isolated areas, while hydrogen microgrids are being presented specifically for island and off-grid deployment.
The showcase comes as grid reliability and electricity costs remain commercial concerns in the Philippines. The event will also feature green building insulation aimed at reducing cooling loads, AI-powered waste sorting systems and commercially produced biodegradable plant-based drinking straws.
Long-term commercial partnerships
Taiwan is looking beyond product sales toward longer-term commercial partnerships with Philippine companies, including joint ventures, licensing and local assembly.
“Fifty-three million dollars in business opportunities showed us how much appetite there is in this market,” Taiwan External Trade Development Council chair James C. F. Huang said in a press statement.
“This year we want to build on that through joint ventures, licensing, and local assembly, so Taiwanese and Philippine companies are building together rather than simply trading. Our measure of success is how many of these connections are still producing value for both sides five years from now,” Huang added.
Increased bilateral trades
The expo’s 2025 edition generated $53.4 million in business opportunities and attracted more than 10,000 buyers. Taiwan and the Philippines traded $6.71 billion in goods in 2024, while bilateral trade increased 8.5 percent in the first seven months of 2025. —Vanessa Hidalgo | Ed: Corrie S. Narisma
