菲律宾PEZA加强韩企投资合作：CREATE MORE激励与经济区许可指南

Busan, South Korea - The Office of the Special Assistant to the President for Investment and Economic Affairs (OSAPIEA) and the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA), in partnership with Samsung Electro-Mechanics Philippines Corporation (SEMPHIL), convened top South Korean manufacturing and technology firms in a high-level business forum titled “Unlocking New Opportunities in the Philippines: A Roundtable for South Korean Investors.” Held at the sidelines of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s visit to South Korea for the APEC 2025 Summit, the roundtable brought together sixteen South Korean companies—most of them part of the supply-chain network of Samsung Electro-Mechanics (SEMCO)—to explore new opportunities for expansion and collaboration within the Philippines’ economic zones. The Philippine Team led by SAPIEA Secretary Frederick Go and PEZA Director General Tereso O. Panga with the SEMCO network Deepening Korea–Philippines Industrial Cooperation The roundtable opened with welcome remarks by Mr. Park Kyu-Taek, Vice President of Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co., Ltd. (SEMCO), followed by a keynote presentation by PEZA Director General Tereso O. Panga on “Investment Opportunities in Economic Zones for South Korean Investors.” In his presentation, DG Panga highlighted the Philippines’ strong fundamentals as an investment destination—its strategic ASEAN location, young, English-proficient, and tech-savvy workforce, growing domestic market, and competitive incentive regime—positioning it as a natural partner for Korean industries aiming to strengthen their regional presence. “South Korea has long been one of PEZA’s most valued partners,” said DG Panga. “This roundtable reaffirms our shared commitment to build globally competitive, sustainable, and technology-driven industrial ecosystems where Korean innovation and Filipino talent can thrive together.” Industry Participation and Business Dialogues The participating firms—many of which serve as tier-one and tier-two suppliers of Samsung Electro-Mechanics—expressed strong interest in expanding within PEZA’s network of ecozones across the country, recognizing the Philippines’ strategic position in the electronics, semiconductor, and EV manufacturing value chains. High-level business forum The forum served as a platform for business-to-government (B2G) and business-to-business (B2B) engagement, with discussions focusing on investment facilitation, incentives, infrastructure, and workforce development—supporting the Marcos Administration’s push for industrial upgrading and regional value-chain integration. Testimonial and Government Commitment A testimonial was delivered by Mr. Kyeongwoo Ryu, President of SEMPHIL, who shared the company’s success story as one of Samsung’s key production bases within a PEZA ecozone. “Our experience in the Philippines proves that PEZA is a true partner for investors,” said Mr. Ryu. “The supportive business environment and talented Filipino workforce make the country an excellent place for long-term growth.” [From left to right] SEMCO Vice President Park Kyu-Taek, SAPIEA Secretary Frederick D. Go, PEZA Director General Tereso O. Panga, and SEMPHIL President Kyeongwoo Ryu In his message, Secretary Frederick D. Go, Special Assistant to the President for Investment and Economic Affairs, highlighted key reforms recently enacted—in addition to the CREATE MORE Act—that strengthen the country’s investment environment and elevate its global competitiveness. These include the amended Investor’s Lease Act and the new mining fiscal regime. Secretary Go likewise reaffirmed the government’s commitment to facilitating investment partnerships with South Korea: “The Philippines welcomes our Korean partners in building an ecosystem of advanced manufacturing alongside industry leaders like Samsung—fostering greater operational efficiency, reducing costs, and strengthening regional competitiveness. Like Samsung, you too can benefit from CREATE MORE’s enhanced incentives that will empower your businesses to expand, innovate, and achieve sustained growth in the Philippines.” Strengthening Investor Confidence under CREATE MORE The event also builds on the recent Presidential approval of SEMPHIL’s ₱50.7-billion new project—the first big-ticket, high-tech investment registered under the CREATE MORE regime—reaffirming investor confidence in the country’s reform-driven and innovation-led growth agenda. Signing of the Registration Agreement between PEZA and SEMPHIL as witnessed by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., SAPIEA Secretary Frederick D. Go, and DTI Secretary Ma. Cristina A. Roque According to DG Panga, the signing of this landmark project is a testament to the favorable conditions within the country’s ecozones, as consistently experienced by registered business enterprises (RBEs). “Once RBEs register with PEZA, they stay and expand their operations almost every year,” he noted. “Over the past 30 years, countless long-staying and continually growing locators have validated PEZA’s reputation as a competitive, service-oriented, and investor-friendly agency.” The Director General further emphasized that “the generous CREATE MORE package of incentives, together with the new Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between the Philippines and South Korea, will provide fresh momentum for deeper trade and investment ties—encouraging more Korean industries to follow the lead of SEMPHIL and its supply-chain partners. These policy instruments reflect the strong alignment between PEZA’s brand of service excellence and the Marcos Administration’s commitment to fostering an enabling, predictable, and innovation-driven investment climate.” This milestone underscores President Marcos Jr.’s role as a true champion of ecozones and high-value industries. Under his leadership, PEZA has consistently surpassed its investment targets since 2022, recording the agency’s highest project approvals in seven years. The Philippines has thus strengthened its position as a trusted partner for sustainable and technology-led growth, with PEZA serving as the vanguard of the country’s globally competitive and ever-expanding industrial base. ###