A Thai stevia processing company is studying a potential USD30-million investment in the Philippines, signaling growing investor interest in the country’s role in the fast-expanding natural sweetener market.
The planned project involves establishing a 1,000-hectare stevia plantation and a processing facility that would serve regional demand across Southeast Asia.
The Philippines is among several locations being evaluated by the Thai firm as it maps out its next phase of expansion within the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
The proposal surfaced during an investment briefing in Bangkok organized by the Asian Consulting Group, where Philippine officials pitched the country as a strategic manufacturing and agribusiness hub.
On the sidelines of the event, the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA), led by Director General Tereso Panga, met with executives of the Thai stevia firm together with representatives from the Philippine Trade and Investment Center Bangkok to discuss possible investment locations and incentives.
PEZA officials highlighted the Philippines’ large agricultural base, export-oriented ecozones and growing demand for healthier food ingredients as factors that could support the proposed plantation and processing complex.
Thai investors attending the briefing also shared positive experiences operating in the country. Arunee Piriyatanakankul of the Thai World Group of Companies encouraged fellow Thai executives to consider registering their projects with PEZA.
Piriyatanakankul cited the group’s investment through PhilCo Food Processing Inc., a newly registered PEZA locator producing coconut-based products such as ultra-high temperature coconut milk and frozen coconut meat.
The firm recently built a 5.5-hectare processing facility at the PHIVIDEC Industrial Estate Special Economic Zone and expects to generate up to 2,500 jobs at peak operations.
PEZA officials also met with FiberHome Thailand to benchmark its manufacturing operations for optical fiber cables and networking equipment.
“Thai companies have shown that when you invest in the Philippines, you gain more than market access—you gain a partner that values speed, stability and sustained support,” Panga said.
