Subic Bay Freeport – Australian Ambassador Marc Innes-Brown recently visited this premier freeportaiming to strengthen its ties with the Philippines as Australia enhances trade and investment with the Southeast Asian countries.
Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Chairman and Administrator Eduardo Jose L. Aliño and other agency officials welcomed Brown during his visit here, wherein relevant information on the logistical advantages of the Freeport to other countries was also discussed.
During the visit on October 3, 2025, Brown, who came with First Secretary for Economic Paul McEachern, said that two years ago, the Australian government developed a Southeast Asia economic strategy to boost trade and investment in the region.
Together with SBMA officials, the Ambassador visited several areas during an ocular inspection of the freeport, while eyeing potential investment opportunities for Australian companies looking to expand their businesses in other countries.
Brown shared that Australia regards the Philippines as a reliable ally in terms of economics and security, as evidenced by the robust and dynamic strategic partnership between the two countries.
He added that the Southeast Asia economic strategy includes promoting Australian investments into the region, with deal teams established in Southeast Asian capitals to identify investable projects.
He also said that their government is promoting outward investments for Australian businesses to the region, while getting more investments into Australia at the same time, by exporting more goods and services.
Meanwhile, SBMA Senior Deputy Administrator for Business and Investment Renato Lee III cited, “Subic Bay Freeport has 23 Australian companies with a total of USD$11.6-million in total investments, and has an employment strength of 540 workers.”
He added that the top three Australian companies in Subic Bay Freeport include STG Global Corp., a steel fabrication company that invested USD$3.5 million; Platinum Skies Aviation, Inc., an air transport company that invested USD$1.4 million; and Dunbrae Subic, Inc. food processing equipment and manufacturing company that invested USD$860,000.
Lee also proposed a Sister Port Agreement with the Australian government citing that the Port of Subic can provide the necessary support to Australia’s major ports such as the Ports of Melbourne, Newcastle, and Botany.
“This will strengthen maritime linkages between the Philippines and Australia since Subic Bay is a strategic deep-water port of Southeast Asia. The SBMA can learn from these Australian Ports since they are key innovators in the Asia-Pacific trade and sustainability,” he added.
