Taiwan 8th top investor in Philippine special economic zones

Manila, Oct. 20 (CNA) Taiwan is ranked the 8th top investor in Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) Special Economic Zones, an official said in a recent interview.

PEZA Director General Tereso O. Panga told CNA in early October that 84 Taiwanese companies had invested in the 431 economic zones under PEZA as of December 2024.

The ecozones are currently home to over 4,300 investments in areas such as manufacturing, information technology (IT), agro-processing and tourism, Panga said, adding that Taiwanese companies have invested over US$593.04 million, with US$872 million in export revenues and creating over 28,000 jobs in the ecozones.

The Taiwanese companies in such zones are mainly experts in electronics, precision components, advanced manufacturing and IT powerhouses such as Sunon, AcBel, Sercom, Adapter Tech, and ASE, Panga said, noting that Taiwanese firms involved in fabricated metal and rubber, plastic, and paper products have also become prominent in the ecozones.

"Taiwan now ranks 8th among PEZA's top investors, and there is still massive potential to grow," Panga said.

Panga further revealed that a PEZA delegation to Taiwan in late August 2025 saw the authority attract two new Taiwanese electronics firms to the Philippines.

He said one of the Taiwanese electronics companies has pledged to invest between US$5 million and US$6 million in the province of Batangas and create about 300 jobs by the of 2025.

Panga added that the second company will set up an operation for video products with the aim of making US$90 million in exports within three years.

"PEZA has always valued its strong partnership with Taiwanese investors," Panga said, adding, "who are among our top locators in electronics, precision components, ICT, and advanced manufacturing."

The director-general added that valuing strong partnerships with Taiwanese investors is a big reason why the authority has provided Taiwanese firms with business facilitations.

The services from PEZA include support systems such as fast-tracking permits and customs clearances, Panga said, to linking Taiwanese companies with infrastructure, renewable energy, logistics and skilled workforce solutions inside the ecozones.

The authority is particularly interested in attracting Taiwanese companies that specialize in semiconductors and electronics, precision manufacturing/fabricated metal, medical devices and renewable-energy-related manufacturing, Panga said.

PEZA is interested in those industries due to Taiwan's strengths and the fact that the country's supply-chain clusters in semiconductors and electronics fit perfectly with the labor and location advantages the Philippines can provide.

The director-general went on to say that PEZA is excited for additional collaborations with other Taiwanese industries as the Philippines embarks on the nation's so-called "Industry 4.0" initiative whereby the Southeast Asian nation looks to create manufacturing and ecozone developments in rural parts of the country.

Panga added that Taiwanese companies in PEZA ecozones have been profitable as a result of the Philippines being able to provide them with a skilled labor force that is equipped with high English proficiency.

In addition, the country's strategic location and strong policy environment are what position PEZA's ecozones as a credible and reliable partner for Taiwan in global supply-chain realignments, he said.