Marcos: Philippines to maximize green metal resources for e-vehicle, battery industries

Speaking during the Vietnam-Philippines business forum on Monday, June 1, President Marcos said that the country is positioning itself as a “premier destination” for smart, sustainable manufacturing and high-value services.

He told investors at the summit that the Philippines is “open to partnership, ready for investment, and eager to work with you in creating new opportunities for growth.”

“Beyond these policy reforms, we are focused on industries that will shape the future,” Marcos said in his speech.

“The Philippines seeks to maximize the value of its vast green metal resources and its operating nickel mines to support electric vehicle production, battery manufacturing, and digital infrastructure supply chains,” he told them, hoping to attract further investments in these areas.

The President further said that the goal is “to pursue economic growth while upholding environmental sustainability and responsible resource development.”

He also told them that the country is currently making efforts to strengthen its shipbuilding industry and defense-related manufacturing capabilities.

This move, he said, reinforces the government’s commitment to maritime security, regional stability, and sustainable industrial growth.

“Ladies and gentlemen, governments can only provide direction. We can build institutions, we can enact reforms, and invest in infrastructure,” he said.

“But progress ultimately depends on people who are willing to seize opportunities and transform these ideas into reality,” he added.

Marcos expressed hope that the business forum would yield strategic plans, meaningful investments, and commercially significant agreements.

As he graced the forum, Marcos also underscored that the Philippines and Vietnam “have built a relationship founded on economic resilience, mutual growth, and a shared commitment to a strong, sovereign, and integrated ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations.”

Last year, Vietnam was the Philippines’ 11th largest trading partner, with bilateral trade reaching $7.17 billion.

The Philippines has also become a key contributor to Vietnam’s technological advancement, Marco said, noting that in 2025, Manila exported over $424 million in digital monolithic integrated circuits and over $200 million in electric motors.

At the same time, Vietnam remains a vital partner in strengthening food security and industrial supply chains, providing more than $1.32 billion in high-quality rice and essential electronic apparatuses. — Betheena Unite