CFO, PhilCham Singapore sign deal to support Pinoy businesses

The Commission on Filipino Overseas (CFO) and Philippine Chambers of Commerce (PhilCham) Singapore on Tuesday signed a deal to support Filipino businesses, particularly non-resident Filipinos, or those permanently living in Singapore.

Through the memorandum of understanding, CFO and PhilCham Singapore commit to strengthening business relations by extending assistance on trade and investments, among others, to Filipinos.

It also paves the way to link diaspora members to broader strategic and timely business matters.

Diaspora members are migrants and their decendants who contributes and maintains their cultural, historical, or emotional ties to their homeland, according to the International Organization for Migration.

Speaking to the media, CFO chairperson Secretary Dante "Klink" Ang II said the partnership whith PhilCham Sinapore is part of the commission's mandate, particularly on economic engagement.

"So, our aim with that partnership is to see how we can link many of the members of the Philippine business chamber commerce and Singapore to potential partners here in the Philippines," Ang said.

"The MOU signing with the PhilCham Singapore hopefully will be a continuing engagement to other organizations," he added.

Ang further shared that CFO is looking into securing a similar agreement with several business chambers in the United States.

CFO and PhilCham Singapore signed the partnership during the 2026 Filipino Diaspora Summit in Pasay City.

This year's Diaspora Summit is themed “Transformation Through Diaspora Engagement: Harnessing Filipino Global Power in Advancing the Philippines' Cultural, Economic, and Political Goals."

According to CFO chairperson Secretary Dante "Klink" Ang II, the summit serves as a platform for partnerships and political and economic activities.

More than 350 delegates from 30 countries and territories attended the event.

Citing goverment data, Ang said there are 10.8 million overseas Filipino around the globe, of which 60% are non-resident Filipinos. — BAP, GMA News