Retailing in the Philippines is set to become more competitive as more retailers from neighbouring countries flock to the country.

According to Teresita Sy-Coson of the SM Group, the Philippines will see more entrants from countries including Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand now that the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) regional economic integration nears.

“We are going to have more Asean brands in the future, there will be people coming in and I guess retailers will be able to go out to the Asean countries as well,” Sy-Coson said.

“The retail sector will always be growing, it will be changing, so I think we will be having a more exciting time in the retail environment,” she said.

However, she assured local retailers need not worry as they won’t be affected.

“We should always have local retailers, and the local retailers will also expand because as manufacturing will evolve differently, some of them will come to Philippines again, so we will have good sources in the future for local retailers,” she said.

The Philippines will host the Asia Pacific Retailers Convention and Exhibition (APRCE) in 2015, with more than 3000 participants are expected to attend.

“The Philippine Retailers Association is preparing for the APRCE conference that will happen in 2015 and that’s when all these Asia Pacific retailers will be coming here for the convention and we will be able to showcase our retail and Philippine tourism,” said Philippine Retail Association president Lorenzo Formoso.