en.Wedoany.com Reported - Telus, a Canadian digital services company, is advancing its expansion plans in the Philippines in the field of artificial intelligence (AI) and related businesses, covering AI services, healthcare support, software engineering, and workforce development. However, the company has not yet disclosed specific investment amounts or a timeline for the growth plan.
The expansion plan was discussed during a meeting held in Canada on July 3. Attendees included Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., Philippine Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Cristina Roque, Philippine Department of Finance (DOF) Secretary Frederick Go, and Telus Digital Global Vice President and General Manager of AI and Data Amith Nair. The meeting was part of Marcos's visit to Canada from July 1 to 4.
According to information from the DTI, Telus's total investments in the Philippines have exceeded $175.6 million since 2018. Currently, the company employs over 24,000 staff across nine operational sites in Metro Manila and Iloilo, providing customer experience, technical support, financial services, back-office operations, and AI-driven services to global clients.
Although Philippine government officials view the meeting as a signal of the country's growing role in higher-value digital work, the announcement did not disclose specific investment amounts for Telus's next steps, the number of potential jobs to be created, or specific timelines for expansion in areas such as AI, healthcare support, and software engineering. Telus stated that future investment amounts will depend on business operations, but the company is expected to continue investing in facilities, technology, training, workforce development, and other capital needs in the Philippines.
The company's intention to expand beyond traditional business process outsourcing comes as the Philippine IT and business process management industry deepens its development in AI, digital health, and other knowledge-intensive services. Roque commented that Telus has been in the Philippines for over two decades, creating quality jobs for local talent and helping the country transition from traditional outsourcing to higher-value digital work. Its growth in AI, healthcare support, software engineering, and workforce development supports the goal of preparing Filipino workers for the next phase of the global services economy.
Frederick Go stated that the expansion plan also reflects the effectiveness of the CREATE MORE Act in attracting investments in export-oriented services. He believes this progress indicates that the act is working as intended, helping attract export-oriented investments in both goods and services, and that Canadian companies like Telus continue to view the Philippines as a competitive investment destination, choosing to expand their operations here.
Roque noted that the company's business direction also reflects the trend of the local IT-BPM industry shifting toward higher-value work. Citing industry forecasts, she said the sector generated approximately $40 billion in revenue in 2025 and could reach $42 billion in 2026. Roque added that the Philippines is ready for higher-value jobs, and through partners like Telus, it is opening broader pathways for Filipino workers to participate in AI-driven services, digital health, software engineering, and other technology-driven industries. Philippine Ambassador to Canada Victor Chan-Gonzaga and Philippine Trade and Investment Center-Toronto Trade Commissioner Mario Tani also attended the meeting.
