Philippine Business Forum to showcase investment opportunities in emerging sectors

A poster for the Philippines Business Forum / Courtesy of the Philippine Board of Investments (BOI)

The Philippine Board of Investments (BOI) and the Philippine Trade and Investment Center in Seoul will host the Philippine Business Forum on Monday, bringing together top government officials, industry leaders and stakeholders from both the Philippines and Korea. The event will focus on exploring investment opportunities in emerging sectors.

Organized by the Philippine Embassy in Korea, the Office of the Special Assistant to the President for Investment and Economic Affairs and The Korea Times, the forum will provide vital insights into the Philippines' evolving business environment.

Key sectors highlighted include electronics, semiconductors, clean energy, electric vehicles, mineral processing, high-tech farming and logistics.

The forum taking place at the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Seoul will feature high-level business meetings and investment opportunities in priority sectors.

It will also include discussions on strategic policy directions, focusing on the Philippines' newly signed CREATE MORE Act, a legislation that aims to increase investment incentives, foster innovation-driven growth and strengthen the country's position as a hub for foreign and domestic businesses.

Secretary Frederick D. Go, the special assistant to the president of the Philippines for investment and economic affairs, will present an overview of the country’s business climate and the impact of the new legislation. BOI Managing Head Ceferino Rodolfo will outline the Philippines' strategic positioning and investment opportunities in complementary sectors in Korea.

A panel discussion with representatives from both the Philippine government and the private sector will offer deeper insights into sectoral developments.

Panelists include BOI Executive Director Corazon Dichosa, Department of Energy Director Patrick Aquino, President Dan Lachica of Semiconductor and Electronics Industries in the Philippines Foundation, President Edmund Araga of the Electric Vehicle Association of the Philippines and Widus International Leisure President Han Dae-sik.

This forum marks the first international stop of the Philippines’ CREATE MORE Roadshow, which began late last month to showcase its enhanced investment incentives and promote international investments.

CREATE MORE aims to improve the investment climate by introducing targeted incentives and expanded support for high-impact industries, positioning the Philippines as a more competitive and attractive destination for global investors.

Since the signing of the Philippines-Korea Free Trade Agreement in October 2023, the two countries have been strengthening their economic ties.

In 2024, Korea became the fourth-largest source of foreign investments in the Philippines, contributing 326.5 billion won ($222.5 million), according to BOI data. The two countries also established a strategic partnership in October 2024 to deepen cooperation in security, economics, energy and other sectors.