EU–PH Green Economy Partnership: What CCIFP Members Need to Know

Dusit Thani Manila, 5 Nov 2025 — CCIFP attended Day 1 of the EU–Philippines Green Economy Partnership: Opportunities & Interventions for Green Business, a by-invitation conference convening government, development partners, and the private sector to accelerate the country’s transition to a green and circular economy.  

Why It Matters to Your Business

Backed by a €60M EU grant under the Global Gateway initiative, the program’s “Green Business, Infrastructure & Finance (SO3)” workstream is opening concrete entry points for companies across recycling/SWM, circular products, sustainable infrastructure (PPP), and green finance.

Top takeaways for members
Competitive calls & grants. Day 1 announced the Green Up to Scale Up innovation-grant awardees (Makesense x Plastic Odyssey, Vivita)—startup enablers that will incubate and fund circular ventures nationwide (Mindanao, NCR/Calabarzon/Cebu, Cordillera). Expect follow-on windows members can plug into as partners, suppliers, mentors, or pilot sites.

PPP pipeline in solid-waste management. Organizers outlined support to LGUs for PPP project preparation and procurement—a path for engineering, O&M, technology, and services firms to enter bankable SWM projects.

De-risked green finance. The EU and DFIs flagged guarantees/blended finance (EFSD+) and a Circular Economy Taxonomy to help local lenders price circular projects—useful for banks, NBFCs, and corporates structuring sustainability deals.

Who Spoke & What They Emphasized

    • DTI (Asst. Sec. Naila Bautista): Enabling conditions for innovation; MSME support; an AI & Startup Center targeted to open early next year to catalyze circular business solutions.
    • EU Delegation (Dr. Marco Gemmer): Co-creation with PH agencies; more competitive calls coming; and de-risking instruments to crowd-in private capital.  
    • AFD (Country Director Bénédicte Gazon): Alignment with building green financial systems that channel capital to low-carbon, inclusive projects; Expertise France is AFD’s technical-assistance arm delivering SO3. 
    • DOST (Asst. Sec. Rodolfo Calzado): Nationwide network of TBIs/innovation hubs turning R&D into bankable circular startups.

How CCIFP members can engage now

    • Signal interest in any of the tracks below so we can connect you with the right organizers:
    • SWM/Recycling & EPR: technology providers, collectors, MRF operators, circular product makers.
    • Green Infrastructure (PPP): consortia for feasibility studies, EPC/O&M, and waste-to-value solutions. 
    • Partner with awardee programs (as pilot hosts, mentors, or offtakers) to road-test circular solutions and build investable pipelines. 

Stay in the loop on upcoming EU competitive calls and PPP RFIs/RFPs—we’ll be sharing these opportunities with our members soon. You may also check more information about EU-PH Working together for Green Growth through here: https://www.greeneconomy.ph/about/about-gepp/