President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Thursday made a direct pitch to global business executives and international financiers, encouraging them to expand operations within the Philippines and capitalize on the rapid development of the Luzon Economic Corridor (LEC).
Addressing around 600 corporate leaders, foreign investors, and high-level government officials at the opening of the two-day LEC Investment Forum at the Grand Hyatt Manila, Marcos positioned the country as a reliable, long-term destination for global capital.
“Bring your capital, technology, your expertise. Develop Filipino talent and local suppliers. Form lasting partnerships with our businesses and communities. You can place your trust in the Philippines,” the President said.
“We will continue providing that stability, the infrastructure, the talent, and the responsive government that long-term investment requires. We want you to succeed here because your success will create opportunities for our people. We want you to regard the Philippines not simply as another market, but as a trusted partner and a place where you can build, innovate, and grow for generations,” Marcos added.
The Luzon Economic Corridor serves as a strategic economic backbone, connecting Subic Bay, Clark, Manila and Batangas to link key industrial, commercial and shipping networks across Luzon.
Co-organized by the governments of the Philippines, the United States and Japan, the trilateral forum aims to catalyze private-sector investments and accelerate infrastructure developments that solidify regional supply chains. The initiative focuses primarily on four strategic sectors: transportation and logistics, energy security and industrial power, digital infrastructure and advanced manufacturing, and regulatory, financing, and investment frameworks.