WTC Metro Manila investing P3B in expansion

WORLD TRADE CENTER Metro Manila (WTCMM) said it is investing P3 billion to expand its exhibition facility in Pasay City, adding 20,000 square meters of  space by 2028.

“This expansion is an investment in the future of the Philippine exhibitions and events industry,” WTCMM Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Pamela D. Pascual said in a statement on Wednesday.

The company said it is anticipating events with increased scale, complexity, and wider audience reach.

“The expansion will create more room for returning flagship shows, new market entrants, and larger international exhibitions that require scale, scheduling flexibility, and reliable venue capabilities,” it said.

The Philippines is seeking to position itself as a premier meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions (MICE) destination.

“With increased capacity and improved infrastructure, WTCMM is poised to welcome more foreign organizers, attract global trade shows, and further strengthen the country’s footprint in the regional and international MICE landscape,” the company said.

The company will maintain an external space of about 7,000 square meters for outdoor set-ups, it said.

WTCMM said it will start accepting advance bookings before the expansion finishes by 2028. This would give organizers early access to prime dates and allow for early planning of flagship events.

Ms. Pascual noted that the expanded WTCMM “reflects our confidence in the market, our commitment to helping our partners scale, and our determination to ensure that the Philippines remains competitive in attracting major regional and international events.”

Since its opening in 1996, the WTCMM has hosted major trade shows, conferences, and large-format industry events. It is located near hotels and malls in the cities of Pasay and Manila, and it is near the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.

WTCMM is managed and partly owned by the Investment & Capital Corp. of the Philippines, conglomerate with businesses in investment banking, real estate development, and venture capital. — Beatriz Marie D. Cruz