Investments

MANILA, Philippines—The Philippines has the lowest Foreign Direct Investments (FDI) among the countries in Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean), according to 2014 United Nations Human Development Report released Wednesday.

Any deterioration in the Philippines’s per-capita income, already low by global standards, and the state of governance that foreign observers rate as weak, could revert the country’s hard-won sovereign rating to below investment grade, a credit watcher said on Thursday.

PHILIPPINE economic growth could slow this year and the next as it moves closer to its trend path, Fitch Ratings yesterday said, with low incomes, muted revenues and political uncertainties holding back the country’s potential. Slower growth of 6.5% is “likely sustainable,” according to Fitch Ratings. 

MANILA, Philippines – More foreign direct investments from Japan are expected to reach the country as it continues to shy away from China, analytics firm IHS said.

MANILA – Following the debt rating lift from Japan’s R&I, the Philippines again received a credit rating upgrade, this time from the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU).

Republic Act 7916 (PEZA Law), otherwise known as the “The Special Economic Zone Act of 1995” was enacted as a means of attracting investors in the Philippines. Among its provisions is a tax incentive which grants to business establishments registered with the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA), a five-percent preferential gross income tax (GIT) rate…

More Philippine and foreign and companies are likely to invest in Southeast Asia, taking advantage of the opportunities offered by a single market ASEAN Economic Community (AEC), a losing proposition for Manila unless the government starts relaxing the conditions for foreign investors.

Manulife’s survey shows more investors still think it is a good time to invest in the Philippines MANILA, Philippines – The investor sentiment in the Philippines slipped in the first quarter of 2014, but remains the highest in the Asian region, alongside Malaysia, according to results from a survey published by Manulife, a Canadian insurance…

“That [bill] is definitely one of the priorities. It is on the Palace list and our list. It’s now in the advance level; anytime [after the adjournment sine die on July 27] it can hurdle committee level because the technical working group [TWG] prioritizes it,” House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte told the BusinessMirror.

JAPAN is sending a high-level trade delegation to the Philippines today to fortify the two countries’ economic relations and put flesh to Tokyo’s plan to make the country its manufacturing investment hub in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean).

MANILA – The National Competitiveness Council (NCC) today said the Philippines could join the top 30 business-friendly locations in this year’s edition of the World Bank’s annual Ease of Doing Business survey should the country implement reforms in four key areas.

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Japan manufacturer wants to put up 3rd Asian hub here MANILA, Philippines—Mitsubishi Motors Corp. (MMC) is eyeing an initial investment of P10 billion in its Philippine operations to establish its third Southeast Asian manufacturing hub in the country, a statement from the Department of Trade and Industry’s foreign trade office in Japan showed.

Increasing investments from employers to generate high-quality and remunerative employment is vital in achieving rapid poverty reduction towards inclusive growth, according to the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA).

MANILA, Philippines – The United Nations Human Settlements Program (UN Habitat) has chosen Cagayan de Oro as one of nine “emerging cities of tomorrow,” Rep. Rufus Rodriguez announced yesterday.

MANILA, Philippines – Sustained economic growth, continued improvement in governance and reduction of sectors in which foreign participation is limited will be crucial to achieving the European Union’s (EU) aim of doubling its investments in the country in the next five years.

MANILA, Philippines – Foreign portfolio investments have started returning to the country in early April, data from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas showed.

THE SUPREME COURT (SC) has upheld a Manila court’s ruling which ordered the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (PAGCOR) to allow two casino operators to resume normal operations whose licenses were revoked for its alleged failure in fulfilling investment commitments.

MANILA, Philippines – Investment pledges approved by the Board of Investments (BOI) declined 52 percent in the first quarter from a year ago.

MANILA, Philippines – The number of Japanese firms which sees the Philippines as a promising market for business in the next three years has risen compared to 2008, according to a survey conducted by the Japan External Trade Organization (Jetro).

THE PHILIPPINES was one of the most aggressive in pushing for accelerating the establishment of the ASEAN Economic Community from the original 2020 target year to 2015. But now that the start of the ASEAN integration is just around the corner, the Philippines would now appear to be least attractive investment destination in the ASEAN…

MANILA – Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) Deputy Director General Jay Yusingco on Wednesday said the truck ban being imposed in Manila will discourage foreign companies and investors from expanding their businesses in the country.

Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima is seeking to reduce the level of restrictions to foreign investments saying that the liberalization tack will result in additional economic activities in the country and help it attain inclusive growth.

At the start of the National People’s Congress, the Chinese government announced a substantial increase in their military spending and now, officials have declared war – that is, against pollution. Chinese Premier Li Keqiang himself has acknowledged that pollution has become a very big problem in his country and is threatening GDP growth, not to…

Foreign investments hit $3.86B; net ‘hot money’ inflow topped $4B MANILA, Philippines — Long-term foreign investments in the Philippines surged in 2013 amid the confidence toward the booming domestic economy, allowing the country to gain some ground from its richer neighbors.

China lured less foreign direct investment than Southeast Asia’s biggest economies combined in 2013 amid faster wage growth and a shrinking labor force in the Communist country, according to Bank of America Merrill Lynch.

The country’s restrictions in foreign ownership and investment in key sectors of the economy are among the most stringent in Asia, the World Bank said.

MANILA, Philippines – Despite progress on most recommendations of foreign businessmen for the economy to accelerate and attract investments, the government will have to undertake more reforms in the agriculture and mining sectors to spur growth and create jobs.

MANILA, Philippines – The Joint Foreign Chambers (JFC) support a proposed measure seeking to change the foreign investments law by removing restrictions on practice of professions and lowering the employment threshold for small and medium enterprises.

Despite big jump in November inflow MANILA, Philippines – Despite rising foreign direct investments, the research arm of Metropolitan Bank & Trust Co. said the country remains a laggard among Southeast Asian countries in terms of annual average FDI.