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Marcos: Philippine economic zones open to all investors

Published May 3, 2024 11:40 pm

At A Glance

  • Marcos said foreign companies can seize the business and trade opportunities offered by the economic zones in the Philippines, including a common tax code and incentive scheme.

President Marcos said the country's various economic zones are open to all foreign investors as he renewed his pitch to foreign businesses to look at the Philippines as an investment destination.

President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr. (Noel Pabalate)
President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr. (Noel Pabalate)

Marcos said this as he discussed the government's measures to transform the economy in an interview with a South Korean newspaper in Malacañan this week.

According to the President, his government has set up attractive investment arrangements for businesses planning to operate in the Philippines.

"We have economic zones where anyone can participate," he said.

Marcos said foreign companies can seize the business and trade opportunities offered by the economic zones in the Philippines, including a common tax code and incentive scheme.

He added that, in these economic zones, locator companies do not have to deal with every single local government unit (LGU).

The Chief Executive cited as an example the Clark Freeport and Special Economic Zone (CFEZ) in Clark City, Pampanga, where government arrangements for businesses have made it an attractive destination for foreign investments.

"They have come in and I like to think that the reason for that is because we have set up the system that’s attractive for their investment," he said.

"It's open for everyone and what it provides. It provides a place where there are special incentives, special tax breaks, especially tariffs on importation, [and] sales tax because they don’t sell into the country," he added.

Meanwhile, Marcos said the government will even do better once the Luzon Economic Corridor is completed. Announced during his historic trilateral meeting with US President Joseph Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio, the Luzon Economic Corridor aims to accelerate coordinated investments in high-impact infrastructure projects in Subic Bay.

Several countries, including the US and Japan, are investing in these projects which focus on rail, port modernization, clean energy and semiconductor supply chains and deployments, agribusiness, and civilian port upgrades.

"And so, we’ll continue to [do] that and will be able to do even better if the Luzon Economic Corridor is completed, and the travel times and the cost of travel of transport will be brought down," the President said.

Related Tags

Bongbong Marcos invest in PH economic zones President Marcos Luzon Economic Corridor
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