By Kurtis Archer | 2025-10-29

Industry associations from India and the Philippines have agreed to advance cooperation in satellite communications and electronics, as the two nations seek to strengthen diplomatic relations and bilateral trade.

In August, Satcom Industry Association-India (SIA-India) and the Electronic Industry Association of the Philippines Inc (EIAPI) agreed to accelerate joint development of space technologies and create integrated production networks.

The deal came as India and the Philippines, which are celebrating 75 years of diplomatic ties, elevated their strategic partnership to strengthen cooperation in defense, trade and regional security.

It followed the first India-Philippines military exercise in the South China Sea, held in August amid concerns that China is posing an increasing threat.

The Philippines has filed 47 diplomatic protests against China so far this year over its escalating hostilities in the South China Sea, Philstar Gobal reported October 14.

The drill sent "a powerful signal of solidarity, strength in partnership and the energy of cooperation between two vibrant democracies in the Indo-Pacific," said Armed Forces of the Philippines chief of staff Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr.

Strengthening industry ties will enable the two nations to collaborate on joint research, innovation and product development in key space technology areas.

These include satellite communications hardware, space electronics, Internet of Things (IoT) devices and embedded systems.

The agreement between the two leading industry associations creates new opportunities for the Philippines to work with India on advancing satellite payload components, space electronics, and ground infrastructure systems.

This collaboration will encourage Philippine industries to participate in India's expanding electronics manufacturing sector, and will allow both nations to explore co-developing critical components and integrating supply chains.

India's industrial expansion

"India has rapidly transformed into a major electronics manufacturing hub, marking nearly a six-fold increase in production over the past decade," the Indian government's Press Information Bureau announced October 11.

"The sector has not only expanded its industrial base but also created 25 lakh (3 million) jobs in the last 10 years, underscoring its role as a key driver of employment and economic growth," it said.

"Strategic government initiatives and strong policy support have further boosted local manufacturing, expanded exports, and attracted significant global investment."

With its vision of building a $500 billion domestic electronics manufacturing ecosystem by 2031, India is poised to emerge as a global technology leader.

India offers satellite launch support, maritime surveillance, and disaster management systems, aligning with the Philippine goal of enhancing space capabilities by using India's cost-effective space program.

Both nations have committed to expanding cybersecurity collaboration, developing sovereign data infrastructure, and building digital public platforms.

The partnership encourages a strategic shift for the Philippines from dependence on single-power relationships toward stronger Indo-Pacific ties.

For India, the cooperation further solidifies the country’s role as a technology partner and defense exporter in the Southeast Asian region.

Stronger Indo-Pacific ties

Hailing the strategic partnership between the two nations, Indian prime minister Narendra Modi said each were "committed to peace, security, prosperity and a rules-based order in the Indo-Pacific region."

The Philippines-India Strategic Partnership "will doubtless resonate beyond the confines of our bilateral relationship," Philippine president Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said during his state visit to India in August.

"We want to work with you for a free and open Indo-Pacific," he told Modi.

The new bilateral space and electronics industry partnership is part of this general deepening of ties, The Economic Times reported.

"Through joint projects, innovation and skill development, we aim to translate this vision into practical outcomes that will strengthen both nations' space and electronics ecosystems," said SIA-India president Subba Rao Pavuluri.

"This collaboration strengthens our role in space and satellite technologies and enables the Philippines to be an active contributor to shaping the Indo-Pacific technology ecosystem," EIAPI president Earl Lawrence Qua affirmed.