Finance Secretary Ralph G. Recto has made a strong pitch for the country, telling global investors that now is the time, the Philippines is the place, and Filipinos are the right partners for their business success.
“What more could you ask for? You’re already here in the Philippines. At the right place. At the right time. With the right partners you need to make your success happen,” he said in his keynote speech before over 300 global investors at the Philippine Stock Exchange’s (PSE) InvestPH 2025 event on March 19, 2025.
“Clearly, there’s only one thing left to do—and that is for us to get down to business,” the Finance Chief added.
Promising economic momentum
According to Secretary Recto, timing is everything—and the Philippines is now at its most promising economic momentum, driven by on-track fiscal consolidation and game-changing investment reforms.
Despite global uncertainties, the country remains one of the fastest-growing economies in the Asia-Pacific, averaging 6% growth since President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. took office in 2022.
Multilateral agencies such as the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the World Bank Group, and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) project the Philippines to expand by at least 6% in the next years.
Further, the Finance Chief highlighted that the government has dramatically dismantled barriers to ease of doing business, ushering in investment-led growth.
The establishment of Green Lanes has streamlined processes, while landmark laws such as the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Code and the CREATE MORE Act have positioned the country as a prime investment destination.
“CREATE MORE is designed to bring you in, help you grow, keep you here, and give every reason for you to place your trust in the Philippines. Again and again,” he told investors.
Secretary Recto likewise shared that the Philippines’ exit from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) greylist bodes well for the expected passage of the Capital Markets Efficiency Promotion Act (CMEPA).
CMEPA will reduce the stock transaction tax from 0.6% to 0.1% to align the Philippines with regional markets and make investing in the PSE more cost-competitive.
Further Philippine capital market improvements are underway to make it more inclusive and competitive, including amendments to the charters of the Land Bank of the Philippines (LANDBANK) and the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) to enable them to publicly offer shares and access private capital.
The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) is also streamlining the registration of Master Securities Lending Agreements to make processes easier for participants of the PSE securities borrowing and lending program.
The Department of Finance (DOF), in coordination with the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), is also working on the inclusion of peso-denominated government bonds into JP Morgan’s Bond Index to boost foreign investor participation in local securities.
Strategic location and market
Secretary Recto marketed the Philippines as the right place for investors in today’s volatile world as it is strategically positioned as the gateway to the ASEAN––the most dynamic and fastest-growing region in the world.
The Philippines likewise boasts a strong and large consumer market. By 2030, the country is projected to rise from the 20th to the 13th largest consumer market in the world.
“Consumer demand comprises 72 percent of our economy. We are not overly dependent on exports, making us more resilient to trade wars,” he said.
Helping fuel this demand is the reliable stream of remittances from overseas Filipinos, hefty tourism receipts, increasing business process outsourcing revenues, and the country’s low-inflation environment.
PH’s greatest asset is its young, talented Filipinos
Secretary Recto underscored that the true strength of the Philippines lies in its people.
With a median age of just 25, the country boasts one of the youngest, most dynamic, and highly skilled workforces—not just in ASEAN, but globally.
“This makes the Philippines the ideal demographic partner for long-term success,” he told investors.
Between 2025 and 2035, the country’s working-age population is set to expand by 15%—the fastest growth rate in ASEAN, according to HSBC.
“Filipinos are globally sought-after professionals because of our high English proficiency, strong educational foundation, and rapidly developing AI-related skills,” Secretary Recto emphasized.
To sustain this competitive edge, the government has rolled out an Artificial Intelligence (AI) Strategy Roadmap—ensuring that the Filipino workforce remains at the forefront of the industries of the future.
InvestPH 2025 is the PSE’s inaugural Philippine investor conference happening from March 19 to 21, 2025. The event is poised to become the largest investor conference focused on the Philippine capital market and promoting the country as a prime investment destination in the region.
The three-day event is co-hosted by HSBC Philippines in partnership with Bloomberg L.P. and Maybank Securities, Inc.
