PBBM woos American investors: ‘PH is open, ready to work with you’

By Ruth Abbey Gita-Carlos, Philippine News Ageency

During a dinner reception hosted by the LT Group, Inc. (LTG) here, Marcos told the business community in the United States (US) that the Philippines has a “skilled, adaptable, and English-speaking workforce,” adding that it has “one of the youngest and fastest-growing populations in Asia.” Marcos said he is looking forward to new investments in various sectors, including electronics, aerospace components, medical device manufacturing, food processing and high-value manufacturing. (Photo: Presidential Communications Office/Facebook)

NEW YORK CITY – President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Monday (New York time) urged American investors to explore opportunities in the Philippines, assuring them that the country is ready for business.

During a dinner reception hosted by the LT Group, Inc. (LTG) here, Marcos told the business community in the United States (US) that the Philippines has a “skilled, adaptable, and English-speaking workforce,” adding that it has “one of the youngest and fastest-growing populations in Asia.”

Marcos also expressed his administration’s commitment to improving the investment climate in the country, citing continued infrastructure development under his watch.

“We are ready to work with you. The Philippines is open—and I mean that not as a slogan, but as a commitment from my administration,” he said.

“We have been working hard to improve our investment climate, cut red tape, make it easier to do business, and build something lasting in our country. We are also at a moment of real opportunity,” Marcos added.

Marcos said he is looking forward to new investments in various sectors, including electronics, aerospace components, medical device manufacturing, food processing and high-value manufacturing.

He added that the government is serious about making the Philippines “a reliable node in global supply chains,” as well as in developing industrial zones and manufacturing corridors.

Marcos also called on investors to consider opening doors in financial services, noting that a large portion of the country’s population remains underserved by traditional banking.

“We are not waiting to be discovered. We are making the case, actively and deliberately, that the Philippines is where you want to be,” he said.

Marcos said the expansion of the fintech sector, along with digital payments, microfinance and insurance products tailored to the mass market, makes the country ripe for innovation and investment.

He added that Philippine capital markets are maturing, as the government continues efforts to promote the Philippines not just as a market but also as a financial center.

The government is also expanding the country’s digital economy by engaging the world’s leading hyperscalers, data center operators and technology companies to make the country part of the infrastructure of the future, Marcos said.

“So tonight, I encourage you—talk to each other; find the opportunities; and when you do, know that you have a partner in the Philippines who is serious about making it happen,” he said.

Present during the dinner reception were members of the U.S.-Philippines Society (USPS), U.S.-ASEAN Business Council (U.S.-ABC), Philippine-American Chamber of Commerce (PACC), U.S. businessmen and the Philippine business delegation.

LTG is a leading diversified holding company in the Philippines, founded in 1937 with major interests in banking, tobacco, distilled spirits, beverages and property development.