Rappler's latest stories on foreign investment
China opens more industries to foreign investment
China eases international ownership caps on brokerages, futures companies, and life insurance firms

Foreign firms wary as China launches investment law
China's foreign investment law is supposed to give local and foreign companies equal treatment, but international firms only have 'modest' expectations

Gatchalian wants to ease foreign restrictions on public works projects
The senator's bill proposes to provide ‘a more level playing field to eligible domestic and foreign bidders’

House OKs bill easing restrictions on foreign professionals in PH
ACT Teachers Representative France Castro slams the bill as a 'worse form of liberalization among professionals' in the Philippines

Foreign direct investments for January to August 2018 up by 31%
This is despite a 17.7% dip for the month of August, compared to July

Gov't allows 100% foreign ownership in 5 investment areas
(UPDATED) The 11th Regular Foreign Investment Negative List also relaxes restrictions on some public works

Foreign investment pledges dip by 37.9% in Q1 2018
Foreign investment pledges for the 1st quarter of 2018 stood at P14.2 billion, says the Philippine Statistics Authority

PH economic managers hail ranking by U.S. firm, vow more reforms
'Our efforts to create a more business- and investor-friendly environment are gaining traction,' says Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia, after an American firm ranked the Philippines as the best country to invest in

Foreign investment pledges down 51.8% in 2017
A significant 82.8% drop is recorded in the 4th quarter of 2017 alone, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority

Rappler Talk: Francis Lim on how SEC violated own rules in Rappler case
Rappler's lawyer also explains why he took the case and what surprised him most about the decision

New list of investment areas off-limits to foreigners now on Duterte's desk
This list – shortened compared to the previous one – is seen to boost foreign direct investments flowing into the Philippines

[OPINION] The real score on foreign investments in the time of Duterte
The latest FDI figures – alongside signs of weaker business confidence, lower growth forecasts, and declining competitiveness – seem to presage a brewing storm in the Philippine business climate

PH to add more sectors allowing 100% foreign ownership
I want to be more aggressive and to be at par with other ASEAN countries says Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia

San Miguel's P1-trillion petrochem facility to break ground by end-2017
The planned oil refinery will mainly produce petrochemicals with a capacity of 250 000 barrels per day

Petron to start $20B oil refinery in early 2018
Other than its planned greenfield project Petron plans to spend another 2 billion P99 41 billion to expand its plants in Bataan and Malaysia

China says industrial policy not aimed at foreign firms
The original intention of this policy is to prevent some companies from using loopholes in government policies to profit from government subsidies says industry and information technology minister Miao Wei

Coca-Cola PH plans to invest $1B more in PH
The investment – over a period of 5 years – will help expand its supply chain and commercial footprint in the Philippines

PH net inflow of 'hot money' hits $60 million
October’s net inflow of foreign portfolio investments is a dramatic turnaround from the 807 million net outflow seen in September

Gov’t to review foreign investment negative list in May 2017
The window will open for us to review that in May and certainly the economic team is going to look at lifting administratively some of those restrictions says Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez

The pitfalls of Special Economic Zones
While SEZs generate foreign investment and employment they also deprive farmers of their land and distort the economy

Duterte's tough talk and what it could mean for US, EU investments
A look at the extent of US and EU business ties with the Philippines

Duterte gov't assures PH economic policies 'predictable'
Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez says despite Duterte s unpredictability the country s economic policy is to protect foreign investments and comply with trade agreements

DTI, DOF looking to ‘modernize’ investment incentives
Both agencies are working together to craft a new set of tax breaks to offer potential investors as ‘the icing on the cake’ to get them to invest in the country and hope to finalize the tax breaks by the end of the year says Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez

Growing middle class, ASEAN links boost PH investment prospects
HSBC Philippines chief sees greater UK investor interest in the country while the head of the Philippines’ oldest conglomerate sees the ASEAN market and its growing middle class pulling in more foreign investors

Nestle to invest P2 billion in new plant for MILO
The new plant is expected to begin production in November 2017

Factory space could boom in next 5 years – real estate expert
Growth rates could double by 2021 but this hinges on whether the government can lower electricity and water costs says the founder of Prime Philippines

Indonesia opens new sectors to foreign investment
Foreign firms are allowed to own different shares in businesses depending on the sector according to the new regulation

PH credit ratings at risk if 'wrong' leaders elected – Palace
The Palace says economic improvements made in the past years will only be put to waste if Filipinos elect the wrong leaders on May 9

S&P affirms PH’s BBB rating, projects incomes to rise
S P projects growth in real per capita income to rise from the 4 1 recorded last year to 4 4 this year
Diokno to next president: Focus on tax reform, foreign ownership limits
Former budget secretary Benjamin Diokno says President Benigno Aquino III s successor can make major changes to entice foreign investors

PH among Asia's frontrunners in 2016 – World Bank
The World Bank retains its positive growth forecast for the country despite predicting overall growth in developing Asia to fall slightly this year

Despite polls, business execs optimistic about 2016
A Makati Business Club survey of top businessmen shows that the majority believe economic growth will be better than in 2015
S&P: Change in PH leadership unlikely to reverse economic reforms
The credit rating agency and local and US based business leaders express confidence the country s next leaders will not disrupt economic momentum

PH to share its 'great economic story' with US investors
Philippine government and business leaders aim to drum up investor interest and soothe concerns over the elections

Philippine firms less optimistic about Q1 prospects
The latest Business Expectations Survey shows business sentiment is more upbeat in the second quarter of 2016

Gov’t to roll out incentives program for auto firms
Car and car parts manufacturers in the country can begin applying for the CARS program on January 15
Foreign investments jump 165% in Q3
The amount approved stood at P48 6 billion a significant increase from the P18 3 billion recorded in the same period last year
After Indonesia rejection, Japan to build India's first bullet train
The report comes after Japan failed to win a high speed train deal in Indonesia earlier this year losing out to a Chinese proposal

PH business groups support RBH1 to ease foreign restrictions
The country s biggest business groups say the Resolution of Both Houses 1 will remedy outdated constitutional restrictions and attract more foreign investment

Aquino, EU firms meet for business opportunities in PH
Airbus pledges enhanced cooperation while Sanofi Pasteur gives updates on its dengue vaccine
Japan’s Citizen Finedevice to invest P1.73B in Batangas
The investment is expected to create 530 jobs and produce 12 3 million P577 8 million worth of exports

APEC 2015: A sense of déjà vu
The current and former NEDA chiefs compare the Philippine economy on the eve of the country s hosting of the APEC summit in 1996 and in 2015 Then and now the global community saw the country as poised to reach great economic heights

Two private equity firms to invest P7B in Clark
This is one of the largest investments by foreign investors in the Philippines real estate sector and is seen to help transform Clark Freeport Zone into a new office and logistics hub

The wRap Indonesia: Rail deal signed, biggest operation vs forest fires
Other stories include an analysis on the effect of the China Indonesia rail deal on foreign investors and Typhoon Koppu lashing the Philippines

Investors to relocate factories after Indonesia-China train deal?
The Indonesian government is feeling the heat after Japanese investors reportedly have threatened to relocate factories and reconsider investment plans after a 150 km fast train project from Jakarta to Bandung was given to Chinese investors

Bullet train a go: China, Indonesia sign $5.5-B deal
After a chaotic bidding process for the high speed rail project that angered Japan who was also in the bidding China signs the deal with Indonesia

The wRap Indonesia: 4th economic stimulus, Sumatran elephants found dead
Other stories include a damning report on the treatment of Indonesia s death row inmates and new Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp s statements ahead of his team s first game under his leadership

Indonesia bids to protect workers with new stimulus plan
In the latest installment Chief Economics Minister Darmin Nasution announced new rules for determining minimum wage rises something business has long blamed for denting investor confidence

The wRap Indonesia: Trial over alleged ISIS links, defense strategy
Other stories include the US dollars gains against the rupiah and an analysis on President Joko Widodo s government s deal with Freeport McMoRan

ANALYSIS: US mining giant’s deal with gov’t a victory for Jokowi
On the eve of a US visit the long term investment is a sign that President Joko Widodo is gaining the upper hand over nationalists
