Philstar Global reports a joint Philippine–Danish effort is positioning the Philippines to scale up as a regional shipbuilding center, with recent OECD and World Bank assessments indicating the country could become globally competitive, add over 100,000 skilled jobs, and lift GDP by about 4%.
On 12–13 November 2025, the Philippine government is hosting the global conference “Revitalizing the Philippine Shipbuilding and Ship Repair Industry,” bringing together 200+ participants across the value chain to discuss reforms, investment conditions, and a proposed joint feasibility study to guide public–private projects.
The plan emphasizes modular, factory-style shipbuilding and standardized designs to increase speed and reduce costs across both civilian and naval/coast-guard segments, while helping diversify supply chains amid China’s dominant share of large-ship production.
Policy moves under discussion include the Shipbuilding and Ship Repair Development Act, CREATE MORE incentives, and ARTA’s ease-of-doing-business measures, targeting clearer permitting, industrial zoning, and investment predictability; industry leadership and private capital are expected to drive execution.
Broader spillovers highlighted include demand for skilled labor and domestic low-carbon steel, growth in supporting manufacturing, and a circular approach pairing modern shipbuilding with responsible ship recycling aligned with the Hong Kong Convention.
