Philippines, Australia eye cross-border fintech collaboration
Financial technology leaders and regulators from the Philippines and Australia have met to discuss cross-border digital finance initiatives, aiming to link the two countries’ technology ecosystems and expand financial access.
The meetings, held during the inaugural Philippine Tech Mission to Australia, were facilitated by the Australian Trade and Investment Commission (Austrade).
The bilateral talks focused on regulatory frameworks, digital finance adoption, and establishing interoperable financial systems between the two nations, delegates said.
The discussions included Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) deputy governor Mamerto E. Tangonan, FinTech Alliance.PH founding chairman Lito Villanueva, FinTech Australia chief executive Rehan Mark D’Almeida, and GXI (GCash EMI) president Oscar Ren-ren Reyes.
The delegates explored potential cross-border initiatives specifically aimed at accelerating digital finance adoption within underserved communities to back the Philippines’ financial inclusion goals.
“These discussions provide valuable insights into how innovation, regulation, and collaboration can work together to expand financial inclusion and strengthen digital finance,” said Villanueva, who also serves as executive vice president and chief innovation officer at Manila-based Rizal Commercial Banking Corp.
He added that continued engagement between industry leaders and regulators would help develop financial systems across the Asia-Pacific region.
“By learning from each other’s experiences and sharing best practices, we can collectively build more inclusive and future-ready financial ecosystems,” Villanueva said.
The meetings come ahead of the ASEAN (Manila) Tech Summit 2026, scheduled for July 28 to 29 in Manila, which is expected to gather regional policymakers, regulators, and technology investors to discuss emerging tech and digital transformation.
Source: Bankero