Organised by the Philippine Trade and Business Centre (PTIC), the Business Mission was the first since the pandemic and brought together educational institutions, government officials and key investors.

The Department of Tourism, Australia New Zealand Business Chamber (ANZCHAM), Cebu Pacific and Philippine Airlines were among key investors involved in discussions, Garcia said.

Garcia is also the founder and CEO of Adelaide-based diversity recruitment social enterprise Community Corporate which specialises in supporting onshore refugees and migrants access employment.

According to Garcia, One of the Mission’s key areas of focus has been enhanced customer experience (CX) servicing, in response to growth in customer demand.

Like South Australia, the Philippines is also focussing on the critical role of digital transformation, skill development, research and innovation, she said.

SA Minister for Tourism and Multicultural Affairs Zoe Bettison led discussions “challenging conventional approaches” to promoting tourism, international education, trade and investments for the state, Garcia said.

The first SA minister to visit the region since 2016, Minister Bettison said the aim of the trip was to “identify opportunities for partnership and collaboration between our two regions”.

“Having the opportunity to meet with potential partners, investors and delegates in person enables greater engagement and collaboration; something which hasn’t been able to occur for the past couple of years due to COVID-19,” she said.

“I’m pleased to hear a level of interest in South Australia’s moves with green hydrogen as businesses in the Philippines, like many in the region, look to clean sources of energy.”

Since being appointed Philippines honorary consul to South Australia earlier this year, Garcia said her discussions with the South Australian government, businesses and Filipino stakeholders have been promising.

Stakeholders from both countries have shown “active leadership” in identifying mutually beneficial partnership opportunities that will help “reboot both our economies”, Garcia said.

Philippine ambassador to Australia Her Excellency Ma. Hellen De La Vega, who led the Business Mission delegation, said Australia is the Philippines’ major economic partner.

“The strong economic recovery of the Philippines and the game-changing policy reforms introduced on taxation, foreign investment and trade liberalization provide a significant platform for further engagement,” Her Excellency De La Vega said.

According to June market data, the value of South Australian goods exported to the Philippines has increased to more than $747 million, Garcia claims.

With around 20,000 people born in the Philippines living in South Australia, Filipinos have been long-standing “active contributors” to SA’s key industries, according to Garcia.

Garcia said the community has made “a significant mark” by investing in businesses such as San Miguel’s global bottling plant in the Barossa Valley among other entrepreneurial ventures.

“Filipinos have also provided a consistent supply of international students and skilled workers pre-COVID to the state,” Garcia said.

Garcia, who also sits on both the SA and Australian Multicultural Commissions, said the Filipino community has a lot to offer culturally as well as bringing “an alternative solution to supply”.

“I am so grateful for the leadership to start these meaningful conversations,” she said.