The company, which enjoyed 40% growth in 2012-13, reaching $76 million in revenue, is looking to the Philippines to provide a highly skilled workforce and various oil and gas opportunities as well as to provide a base for further expanding overseas operations.

"A lot of our competitors are a lot bigger than us, and they've got centres in a lot of different regions in Asia," Fyfe managing director Mark Dayman said.

"So we're looking to be in a position to have the right workforce in the right location and be able to tap into some of the bigger projects that are in that region as well."

Dayman said the company expected to employ about 20 staff in its Manilla office, which it believed would provide a springboard to projects in surrounding regions, as well as offering local infrastructure opportunities.

Other benefits, he said, included similar time zones and a large English-speaking workforce.

The company is harbouring plans to float on the Australian Securities Exchange, although that option is probably still a few years down the track.