Foreign investors coming to scout Luzon

MANILA, Philippines — A 600-strong delegation of international investors, industry leaders, project developers and government officials is coming to Manila in September to scout opportunities within the Luzon Economic Corridor (LEC), which spans Metro Manila, Clark, Subic and Batangas.

Their visit will be part of the inaugural LEC Investment Forum on Sept. 10 and Sept. 11, cohosted by the initiative’s original tripartite partners—the Philippines, United States and Japan—and sponsored by the US Trade and Development Agency (USTDA).

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According to USTDA, the forum will focus on investment opportunities in advanced manufacturing, digital connectivity, energy, transportation and logistics, as well as private capital and financing.

“The LEC Investment Forum brings together the United States, Japan, the Philippines and partner nations from across the world around one goal: turning priority projects into commercial reality, while advancing our collective vision for a free and open Indo-Pacific,” USTDA Deputy Director Thomas Hardy said.

Forum

Apart from the Philippines, United States and Japan, the forum will involve partners from Australia, Canada, Denmark, France, Italy, South Korea, Sweden and the United Kingdom.

So far, USTDA said the forum will be attended by US Department of State Assistant Secretary Caleb Orr, Ambassador Lee Lipton and Hardy. Other featured speakers include Maharlika Investment Corp. president and CEO Rafael Consing and Asian Development Bank director for the Philippines Andrew Jeffries.

During the forum, a pipeline of priority infrastructure projects seeking investors, commercial partners and development support will be presented to participants, although USTDA did not identify the projects or disclose their estimated investment requirements.

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Project sites

They will also visit prospective project sites in Subic Bay, Clark and Batangas.

The two-day gathering will include project showcases, panel discussions and breakout sessions, as well as an expo and a dedicated deal-making room connecting investors, developers, financiers, technology providers and project sponsors.

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This marks yet another push to promote the LEC, an economic corridor that accounts for about half of Philippine gross domestic product and serves as a major hub for manufacturing, logistics and trade.

In July, at least 25 American business executives and investors visited Manila, Clark and Subic as part of a five-day investment mission exploring opportunities in sectors including energy, telecommunications, manufacturing, tourism and shipping.

READ: 50 firms keen on PH ‘Pax Silica’ hub

It also comes amid growing interest in New Clark City, which is being positioned for the proposed 1,619-hectare Pax Silica hub focused on artificial intelligence-related infrastructure and advanced manufacturing.

That project will be jointly developed by the Philippines and the United States and is expected to kickstart construction as early as 2028.

“America’s leadership in the Indo-Pacific is built on trusted partnerships and a shared commitment to secure, high-quality infrastructure,” Hardy said. INQ