AI opens new export opportunities for Philippines firms

Artificial intelligence is spreading into traditional service sectors in the Philippines and other markets, according to the World Trade Centres Association. A senior executive at the trade network said the shift is creating opportunities for export-oriented businesses.

Scott Wang, Vice President, Asia Pacific, at the World Trade Centres Association, cited recent examples from global services trade showing AI being used in areas such as healthcare and elder care, rather than only by technology companies. He said the same pattern could apply to manufacturers that add services around the goods they sell.

The comments come as the Philippines posts strong export numbers. Preliminary figures from the Philippine Statistics Authority showed merchandise exports reached USD $9.11 billion in August 2026, up 27.8% from a year earlier and the highest monthly level since the series began in 1991.

Electronics remained the main driver, with shipments totalling USD $6.20 billion, or 68.1% of all exports that month.

Services focus

Wang pointed to examples at the China International Fair for Trade in Services in Beijing, where exhibitors showcased AI tools for traditional medicine drug discovery and automated systems for senior care facilities. He said the focus was on how technology can reshape service delivery and increase the value of existing industries.

That matters for the Philippines because both services and manufacturing play major roles in the economy. The country has long relied on electronics exports while also building a major information technology and business process management sector serving overseas clients.

Industry body IBPAP said the IT-BPM sector generated more than USD $40 billion in revenue in 2025. In its latest outlook, the group identified higher-value work, AI-enabled talent and workforce upskilling as priorities for sustaining growth.

Wang said manufacturers can also learn from the trend by looking at services linked to products after shipment. These could include customer support, diagnostics and after-sales assistance, depending on each company's operations.

"While not every company needs to become an AI developer, businesses must continue to evaluate where AI can enhance their existing services or add measurable value to the products they already export. This is particularly relevant for the Philippines, where both manufacturing and services serve as primary economic pillars," Wang said.

Skills constraint

Adoption still faces a labour challenge. A study by Aon found that 72% of surveyed organisations in the Philippines had already deployed AI or were piloting projects, but only 17% said they could recruit and retain enough workers with the necessary skills.

The gap suggests many companies are willing to test automation but may struggle to turn pilot schemes into routine commercial use. That issue is likely to affect both service providers and manufacturers seeking to embed AI into customer-facing and operational functions.

The World Trade Centres Association said its network includes more than 300 World Trade Centre businesses across nearly 100 countries and territories, including World Trade Centre Metro Manila. It said that footprint gives it a broad view of how services trade is changing across markets.

For Philippine businesses, the question is no longer whether AI belongs only inside software companies. The wider issue is how firms in established sectors apply it to improve the services that support their exports and core operations.