PEZA Reports 41.7% Surge in Investments: Nearly 60,000 New Jobs and USD 6B in Exports Expected

Business | Economics Posted on 2025-11-02 01:46:14

The Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) announced a significant 41.72 percent increase in approved new and expansion projects for the first ten months of 2025, signaling renewed investor confidence and robust industrial growth across the country’s ecozones.

According to data released by PEZA on Friday, a total of 243 projects approved by the PEZA Board as of end-October are projected to generate around USD 6.079 billion in exports and create 59,937 direct jobs for Filipinos.

Strong Foreign and Domestic Investment Momentum

Japan led the pack of top foreign investors, followed by the Cayman Islands, South Korea, China, Singapore, and the United States, among others.

PEZA also reported that investments in domestic market-oriented enterprises reached ₱84.31 billion, which the agency described as “a testament to both strong domestic investor confidence and the sustained interest of global players in PEZA ecozones.”

For October 2025 alone, the agency approved 28 new and expansion projects worth ₱20.66 billion, marking a 162.64 percent increase from the ₱7.87 billion approved in the same month last year. These new projects are expected to generate USD 1.588 billion in exports, up 182.33 percent year-on-year, and create around 9,507 new jobs, reflecting a 95.53 percent rise from 2024 figures.

Sustained Confidence Amid Global Uncertainty

PEZA Director General Tereso Panga emphasized that the surge in investments highlights the resilience and continued appeal of the Philippines as a prime investment destination.

“Amidst global and domestic uncertainties, these figures reflect the unwavering confidence of our locators and partners in the ecozone program and in the country’s long-term investment potential,” Panga said.

He added that PEZA’s strategic focus remains on strengthening the ecozone framework while ensuring a stable, transparent, and competitive business environment that promotes sustainable and inclusive growth.

“With over 70 percent of our investment target already achieved within ten months—and with strong project pipelines under review—we are confident and optimistic of meeting, and hopefully exceeding, our ₱250-billion investment goal for 2025,” Panga concluded.

The robust growth underscores PEZA’s crucial role in driving industrial expansion, boosting exports, and creating high-value employment opportunities that fuel the Philippine economy’s continued recovery and competitiveness.