CITEM, GDAP ink deal for continued partnership in support of PH gamedev industry

After the successful turnout of the Philippine GameDev Expo’s (PGDX) third edition, the Game Developers Association of the Philippines (GDAP) and the Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions (CITEM) renew their partnership to continue building on the gains of the country’s burgeoning game development industry. 

Primary to their sustained agreement is the staging of PGDX 2026, which will take place on July 24 - 26 at the SMX Convention Center Manila. With a vision for international expansion, the country’s first and largest trade show for the gamedev industry will introduce new show features designed to strengthen the connections among members of the Philippine gamedev ecosystem while also retaining crowd-favorite programs that have made it the must-visit expo for everything gaming.

PGDX is organized by the Game Developers Association of the Philippines (GDAP) and CBZN Perspective, with CITEM as the co-organizer and official event partner for the second year in a row.  

Integrating gaming with other creative industries

The renewed partnership between GDAP and CITEM was formalized during the signing of the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) on June 5 at the Gallery 1 of the Likhang Filipino Exhibition Halls. Present at the meeting were GDAP’s recently inducted President Ria Lu and Executive Director Amie Ramos; CBZN Perspective’s Ayee Calma; and CITEM’s Executive Director Leah Pulido Ocampo, Service Business Department Manager Marjo Evio, Supervising Trade Industry Development Specialist Katrina Ledesma-Muan, and CREATEPhilippines team members SJ Nacino, Vea Santos, Mykai Paez, and Sofia Neri. 

One of the promising developments from PGDX 2025 was its Meeting Area and Business-Matching Hub, which facilitated 128 meetings among game developers, publishers, investors, and other industry stakeholders. To sustain the momentum, CITEM’s CREATEPhilippines will once again be leading the expo’s business-matching feature. This includes the development of a business-to-business (B2B) program as well as the Buyers Incentive Package for select international publishers, investors, and studios. To attract potential buyers and promote PGDX 2026 globally, CITEM will be working with the Foreign Trade Service Corps (FTSC) located in key gamedev markets. It will also introduce the Hosted Delegate Program to cater to game publishers and other potential collaborators from all over the globe. To be managed by CREATEPhilippines, the program’s goal is to encourage bigger trade opportunities for the local industry.

The discussion during the MOA signing also raised both parties’ willingness to explore a sustained collaboration in 2027 and beyond, since a longer timeline will provide more opportunities for the organizations to work toward establishing the Philippines’ presence in global gamedev events, particularly in East Asia. With more Filipino-made games gaining international traction, the country is increasingly strengthening its position as the next global gamedev hub that can provide not just outsourced talent but also original games and intellectual properties (IP). Exposure to global best practices as well as streamlined marketing efforts can bring that vision closer to reality. Marketing is especially crucial so gamers can find original Filipino IP content amid the influx of apps and games enabled by artificial intelligence (AI). 

Furthermore, the partnership is seen as a potential vehicle for integrating gaming with other creative disciplines. With the Philippine creative economy generating approximately PhP2.12 trillion last year, accounting for 7.6% of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP), concerted efforts to grow the country’s interactive media industries and digital content creation will yield even higher returns for the national economy. Lu noted, “We want the Philippine gamedev scene to collaborate with other sectors.”   

“We welcome the continuation of CITEM’s partnership with GDAP to further drive forward the evolution of the country’s gamedev industry,” CITEM Executive Director Leah Pulido Ocampo stated. “As it becomes even more globally competitive, stakeholders in both the public and private sectors must work together to ensure that the industry’s remarkable growth is sustainable and beneficial, not only to the gamedev ecosystem’s players but also to the rest of the country.” 

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Photos by Hannah Angela Go.

CREATEPhilippines is the official event partner of PGDX 2026. As the country's first government-led content and community platform for the local creative industries, it is the ultimate resource for stories and updates on the Philippines' creative community and a centralized directory and sourcing platform where Filipino creatives can share their portfolio and engage with a global audience.

CREATEPhilippines is a promotional program for the creative industry by the Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions (CITEM), the export promotion arm of the Philippine Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).