• PH-China trade dialogue eyed this year

Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez said they are hopeful to convene the next trade and investment dialogue with China this year, four years after their last discussion in 2017

• Indonesia Halal Law takes effect; PH, Indonesia to sign MOU for PH halal exports

The Philippines and Indonesia are working on a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to help Philippine exporters comply with Indonesia’s Law 33/2014 on Halal Product Assurance, now in effect. The MoU, now in its final stages, will facilitate trading of Halal-certified goods through a government-to-government arrangement.

• HPC plans to expand Philippine operations, to manufacture COVID-screening devices

Hocheng Philippines Corporation (HPC), a leading manufacturer of bathroom equipment, is planning to expand its operations in the Philippines including the assembly, promotion, and distribution of LENUS, an anti-virus guard that requires wearing a face mask as it functions as a thermal scanner and alcohol dispenser in one.

• Hong Kong toy manufacturers see ‘Making it Happen’ in the Philippines, considers investing in the country’s resilient economy

Foreign investors continue to show strong confidence in doing business in the country as they see themselves to “Make It Happen” in the Philippines, as it primes up for a resilient and robust economic recovery this year.

• ‘PH favored for US, European investments’

Standard Chartered has tagged the Philippines as one of the most favorable countries for foreign investment in Southeast Asia.

• First batch of Davao durian arrives Down Under

Australians will soon be tasting the sweet, savory, and creamy durian from Davao as the Philippines’ first-ever shipment of frozen durian from Davao City has arrived Down Under

• Filipino-Israeli firm to invest over P1B for Covid vaccine

A Filipino-Israeli pharmaceutical company looks to invest more than P1 billion to produce a Covid-19 oral vaccine in the country, the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) said on Thursday.

• SteelAsia to resume construction of Lemery plant

The construction of SteelAsia Manufacturing Corp.’s Lemery plant in Batangas will resume after it was suspended due to the Covid-19 lockdown.

• PEZA okays P13-B investments

The Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) has approved PHP13.19 billion worth of investments involving 33 projects, the investment promotion agency said in a statement Thursday

• European firms invest over P23-B in PH in 2020

European companies have invested EUR406.5 million (around PHP23.43 billion) in the Philippines last year, Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Ramon Lopez said on Tuesday

• PH invites investors, seeks closer fintech and halal ties with Indonesia

Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III identified technology and halal as potential areas for trade and investment collaboration with Indonesia in a move that signals the country’s commitment to deepening bilateral relations with the largest economy in Southeast Asia.

• SERCOMM ‘Makes It Happen in the Philippines’, tops US$45M worth of investments, reaches 10M units of telco equipment

SERCOMM Philippines continues to ‘Make It Happen in the Philippines ’as it announced a major milestone with production of its networking and broadband equipment recently reached 10 million units.

• DTI-BOI hails PRRD signing of CREATE Act

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the Board of Investments (BOI) hailed the signing of the landmark Republic Act. No. 11534, or the Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprises (CREATE) Act, by President Rodrigo Duterte after it passed both Houses of Congress recently.