MANILA, Philippines — Following the signing of landmark trade agreements between the Philippines and Paraguay, the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) is moving quickly to translate these diplomatic ties into tangible economic gains. On Tuesday, May 12, 2026, the country’s largest business organization announced it is actively targeting high-impact investments in the agriculture and Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) sectors as part of the new bilateral cooperation.
PCCI President Enunina Mangio stated that the partnership creates a unique “synergy of strengths” that could address food security in the Philippines while expanding the country’s digital footprint in South America.
The PCCI has identified two primary sectors where Paraguayan capital and expertise can integrate with the Philippine economy:
1. Agriculture and Food Security
Paraguay is a global powerhouse in agricultural exports, particularly in bovine genetics and grains.
- Bovine Genetics: The PCCI is eyeing joint ventures to bring Paraguayan expertise in cattle breeding to the Philippines to help revitalize the local dairy and beef industries.
- Soybean and Feed Mills: As one of the world’s top soybean exporters, Paraguay offers a steady supply of raw materials for Philippine animal feed, which could help stabilize local poultry and pork prices.
- Technology Exchange: Opportunities exist for “agri-tech” transfers, focusing on large-scale farming techniques suitable for the Philippines’ varying topography.
2. BPO and Digital Services
While the Philippines imports agricultural knowledge, it aims to export its world-class service expertise.
- The “Pacific Gateway”: The PCCI plans to assist Philippine BPO firms in setting up regional hubs in Paraguay to serve the Mercosur (Southern Common Market) bloc.
- Spanish-Language Synergy: With the Philippines’ growing pool of Spanish-speaking agents and Paraguay’s strategic location, the PCCI sees a natural fit for multi-lingual customer support and back-office operations catering to the Latin American market.
Despite the optimism, the PCCI acknowledged significant hurdles that business leaders must overcome to make the deal successful.
- Distance and Freight: The geographical gap between Asunción and Manila remains a challenge. The PCCI is calling for discussions on maritime logistics and potential “transshipment hubs” to reduce the cost of moving bulk agricultural goods.
- Language and Culture: To bridge the cultural gap, the PCCI is coordinating with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to organize business matching webinars and language-bridging programs for entrepreneurs.
- October 2026 Mission: President Mangio confirmed that the PCCI will lead a high-level “Trade and Investment Mission” to Paraguay in October to finalize several private-sector MOUs.
The PCCI emphasized that the deal isn’t just for conglomerates. They are looking at how Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) can participate in the supply chain, particularly in processed food exports—such as dried mangoes and coconut products—which have seen growing interest from South American distributors.
“We are not just looking at Paraguay as a source of imports, but as a strategic partner. This is a chance for our service sector to plant a flag in South America while we secure our food supply chains at home.” — Enunina Mangio, PCCI President.
