By Tracy Cabrera
MANILA, Philippines — Recognizing the Philippines’ role in connecting the global economy in a rapidly changing technological landscape, Swiss State Secretary for Economic Affairs Helene Budliger Artieda identified artificial intelligence, innovation, academia and rules-based trade as areas where Switzerland and the Philippines could deepen cooperation.
Budliger Artieda said the Philippines has strong human capital and an important position in the region, making it in the best interest of both Bern and Manila to work together in advancing AI and innovative technologies not only in ASEAN but globally.
However, the Swiss official also stressed the need for the Philippines to continue improving its interconnectivity and access to opportunities in ASEAN and global markets.
“You are on a good path, but you can do better,” she said, noting that one of the major challenges confronting ASEAN economies is the rapid development of artificial intelligence.
“I think it’s interconnectivity, I think it’s dealing with new topics such as AI, which is a big, big issue,” she said.
“We’re still digitalization, digitalization of the economy is still a topic, but now we already have the next massive technology revolution coming our way,” she added.
Budliger Artieda said Switzerland’s approach to innovation could provide opportunities for cooperation with the Philippines, particularly through universities, research institutions and the private sector.
“Switzerland is highly decentralized and does not operate through a single top-down innovation strategy. So, if the Philippines is interested to collaborate with Switzerland on AI, we have to connect at the proper level, and that would be university—that would be really the academy,” she said.
The Swiss state secretary cited Switzerland’s technical universities and their long history in information technology, big data, robotics and automation, which she said helped position the country at the forefront of AI development.
Still, she stressed that innovation is not limited to fundamental research.
“It’s great if you create a large language model, but then if it never gets into the market, you really need to have the capacity to go from lab into the market,” she said.
For the Philippines, she noted, cooperation could take place directly between academic institutions and private companies, with the Swiss Embassy helping facilitate connections.
Switzerland currently maintains a sectoral dialogue with ASEAN and has also started an EFTA-ASEAN dialogue, but Budliger Artieda said there is room to bring Swiss businesses more directly into the discussions.
“We firmly believe as government that we’re strongest when we show up as Team Switzerland, and Team Switzerland is the government, private sector and civil society,” she said.
She explained that the idea is to bring the Swiss private sector more actively into ASEAN engagements, building on a format Switzerland had already tested during the coronavirus pandemic.
In the end, Budliger Artieda said the broader objective ultimately comes down to jobs and business.
“For our population to succeed, they need jobs. And to create jobs, businesses need business. That’s what it’s all about,” she concluded.
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