Trade & Investment
From The Report: The Philippines 2016
View in Online Reader

After years of lagging behind its South-east Asian peers, the Philippines is seeing a long-awaited awakening of foreign direct investment (FDI). Although FDI volumes are still smaller than what countries in its peer group attract, the Philippines has been catching up at an impressive pace. Although many of the challenges that impeded investment in the past have yet to be fully overcome, the faster economic growth of recent years and stronger efforts to attract investment have improved perceptions of the country’s prospects. FDI rose from $1.1bn in 2010 to $4.9bn in the first nine months of 2014 as economic growth has accelerated and business policies have improved.

This chapter contains an interview with Arthur R Tan, President and CEO, Integrates Micro-electronics; and a dialogue with Edwin CoSeteng, President, First Philippine Industrial Park and Guillermo Luchangco, Chairman and CEO, Science Park of the Philippines.

Articles from this Chapter

Overview

The next steps: Further market reform would boost investment and trade levels
OBG
plus

The Philippines’ trade and investment sectors are at a crossroads. The new president and Congress elected in May 2016 elections face crucial decisions related to the country’s bid to join the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), the “deep” free trade bloc being created by the US, Japan and other Pacific Rim countries. If the new Philippines leadership moves decisively to join the bloc, the accession process could potentially be a catalyst for a historic liberalisation. Growth Drivers Impressive…

Interview

Investing in people: OBG talks to Arthur Tan, President and CEO, Integrated Micro-electronics
OBG
plus

Interview:Arthur Tan How can the Philippines capitalise on the availability and low cost of labour? ARTHUR TAN: High energy costs represent an inhibitor for certain types of manufacturing in the Philippines; however, operations that are not generally energy intensive can be built onshore, particularly those requiring a certain level of quality and productivity, as these factors generally depend heavily on labour. The Philippines needs to target areas of manufacturing that require high production…

Analysis

Members’ club: Being part of the Trans-Pacific Partnership would bring access to major markets
OBG
plus

Of all the decisions that will be made by the new president and Congress to be elected in May 2016 elections, none will be more important than whether to pursue membership in the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), the 12-member free trade bloc being formed by the US, Japan and 10 other Pacific Rim countries. Although the TPP agreement, signed in February 2016, was not expected to be ratified until after November 2016 US elections, the Philippines is one of the countries that have put themselves forward…

Overview

Industrial estates: OBG talks to Edwin CoSeteng, President, First Philippine Industrial Park; and Guillermo Luchangco, Chairman and CEO, Science Park of the Philippines
OBG
plus

Interview:Edwin CoSeteng,Guillermo Luchangco What challenges and opportunities have arisen for industrial estate expansion and for the manufacturing sector as a whole? EDWIN COSETENG: The Philippines has experienced a surge in interest in terms of foreign direct investment in manufacturing over the past four years. This has come at a time when most industrial estate developers have had reduced inventory. All players have had to fast-track their expansions to keep up with this increasing…