Investments approved by the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) during the first half of 2025 rose 59 percent, as the government continues to position the country as an attractive investment hub.

In a statement, PEZA said it has approved ₱72.36 billion in investment pledges from January to June, an upward adjustment from ₱45.48 billion during the same period in 2024,

The pledges, which translate to actual investments over time, cover 133 new and expansion projects. This is an 11 percent hike from 120 approved projects last year.

These projects are estimated to create nearly 33,000 jobs and generate approximately $1.26 billion in export revenues.

By the end of June, PEZA approved eight big-ticket projects, potentially bringing in investments valued at more than ₱50 billion.

The manufacturing sector, specifically the production of food and beverage products, was seen to attract the highest number of investment pledges, with 55 projects approved by PEZA.

A bulk of these investments or 68 projects is set to rise in Calabarzon, which is home to several PEZA economic zones.

PEZA Director General Tereso Panga said the increase in investment pledges this year is a testament to his agency’s critical role in fostering economic growth and job creation.

“We are reaping the fruits of our aggressive promotion efforts, investor-centric reforms, and continued commitment to making the Philippines a competitive and resilient hub for global industries,” said Panga.

“The confidence shown by both new and existing investors is a strong signal that our ecozones are thriving and open for business,” he added.

As an investment promotion agency, PEZA grants incentives to qualified investors, resulting in forgone revenues for the government.

In return, the government expects these projects to generate economic activity, employment, and export revenues.

Taking into account June alone, PEZA approved a total of 31 projects worth ₱6 billion, down 31 percent from the ₱8.65 billion during the same period last year.

This, however, is a strong recovery from last month’s slowdown in investment pledges which fell to ₱2.82 billion, driven by uncertainties surrounding the tariff policy of the United States (US).

According to PEZA, the leading source of investment commitments for this first half of the year was South Korea. Other major sources include the US, China, Japan, and the Netherlands.

Panga said the Philippines is in a “sweet spot” to attract foreign investments owing to fiscal incentive such as that of the Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprises to Maximize Opportunities for Reinvigorating the Economy (CREATE MORE) Act.

In the second half of the year, PEZA is already looking to secure over 50 investment pledges which are now under the discussion phase.

The agency recently welcomed delegates from prospective investors such as the US, China, Japan, Spain, and Germany, which brought interest in advanced manufacturing and information technology and business process management (IT-BPM) sector.

With a strong performance in the first half, Panga expressed optimism in achieving the target of boosting investment approvals by nine to 10 percent this year.

Last year, PEZA approved ₱214.18 billion worth of investments, a 22-percent increase from the recorded ₱175.7 billion in 2023.