PEZA secures USD 215M in investments during US mission

LAS VEGAS — The Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) successfully concluded a five-day investment promotion mission to the United States, securing over USD 215 million in new and expanding investments across key industries including manufacturing, aerospace, pharmaceuticals, and IT-business process management (IT-BPM).

Held from Jan. 5–9, 2026, the mission was led by PEZA Director General Tereso O. Panga and timed alongside the country’s participation in the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2026 in Las Vegas.

The delegation co-organized the Philippine Pavilion at CES with the Semiconductor and Electronics Industries in the Philippines, Inc. (SEIPI).

Four PEZA-registered companies, GMV Materials Inc., Ionics EMS, Inc., Integrated Micro-Electronics (IMI), Inc., and Macro Wiring Technologies Co., Inc., exhibited advanced electronics products and services developed exclusively within Philippine economic zones.

While in Las Vegas, PEZA engaged with a U.S.-based vertical manufacturer of industrial and medical-grade nitrile gloves and glove-making machinery.

The company finalized its plan to invest approximately USD 200 million in a dual-site manufacturing facility in South Luzon and Cebu, expected to create more than 2,000 jobs for Filipinos.

Also at CES, Ionics EMS introduced PEZA to a prospective investor focused on manufacturing portable brain imaging systems.

The initiative aligns with PEZA’s strategic push into the pharmaceutical and medical device sectors, buoyed by last year’s launch of the country’s first Pharma Park and the release of registration guidelines for pharma-related projects.

In Buffalo, New York, PEZA and SGV & Co. met with a global aerospace manufacturer with a long-standing presence in Baguio City since 1984.

The company—renowned for its flight control systems and critical components—plans to invest over USD 15 million to expand into New Clark City, potentially creating 1,000 new jobs on top of its existing 2,000-strong Philippine workforce.

PEZA also visited the Philippine Consulate General in New York, led by Consul General Senen T. Mangalile.

Discussions focused on the threefold increase in U.S. investments in PEZA zones recorded in 2025 and future collaboration opportunities, including a U.S. business delegation visit to the Philippines in July 2026, coordinated by the Philippine Embassy and supported by the Philippine Trade and Investment Center (PTIC) and SGV.

Additionally, PEZA, together with EY and SGV & Co., briefed one of the U.S.’s leading mental health services providers.

The company, which currently operates in the U.S. and India, is exploring the establishment of a global center of excellence for IT-BPM in the Philippines.

The proposed project could generate more than 1,500 jobs for Filipinos in its first year of operations.

“This mission sends a clear message that the Philippines—through PEZA—is open, ready, and competitive for high-value investments,” said Panga.

“From advanced manufacturing and aerospace to medical technology and IT-BPM, global companies continue to recognize the strength of our talent, the reliability of our ecozones, and the impact of the government’s reforms. And the best thing about PEZA is that our projects do not end up on paper alone; they translate to quality jobs, technology transfer, and long-term confidence in the Philippine economy, like it has done so for the past three decades.”

PEZA remains the only Philippine agency consistently cited by the U.S. Trade Administration and the U.S. State Department for its transparency, performance, and streamlined service delivery.

It has earned recognition for its one-stop-shop system and ease of doing business, critical in attracting foreign direct investment.

As of November 2025, PEZA had registered more than 250 U.S.-affiliated companies, contributing over PHP 410 billion in cumulative investments and employing more than 380,000 Filipinos.