The Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) sees a three- digit increase in investments in 2022, buoyed by sustained growth despite the pandemic.
At the Global Biz forum last week, PEZA director-general Charito Plaza said the agency’s aggressive marketing and promotion as well as the creation of different types of economic zones nationwide will attract investors.
“With the travel restrictions and lockdown levels slowly being eased in our country, we are seeing the last month of 2021 and the year 2022 on a positive light,” Plaza said.
As of October 21, PEZA has generated P62.722 billion of investments from 215 new and expansion projects and exports amounting to $46.141 billion.
Plaza said despite the threats and challenges brought by the pandemic, 90 to 95 percent of registered companies continuously operate.
She added PEZA companies did not reduce but have increased the number of employees during this pandemic to 15 percent, reaching over 1.7 million directly employed.
Plaza added exports of locators increased 20 to 30 percent of our export income.
PEZA, she said, will continue to contribute to employment and export income and “will never stop in getting new investments. “
“(The) PEZA board meets twice a month… there has never been a meeting without approving new investments and expansions,” Plaza said.
PEZA’s 415 ecozones host 4,670 locator companies. – Irma Isip
