Trade & Investments

Davao del Norte has reclaimed its place in the global cacao trade, exporting premium fermented cacao beans for the first time in more than a decade in a breakthrough that could open new opportunities for Philippine farmers in high-value overseas markets.

The Philippines will take the spotlight at next year's China-ASEAN Expo after being named Country of Honor for the 23rd CAEXPO, giving local businesses a prime platform to expand trade, attract investments and strengthen commercial ties across the region.

The Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) has achieved nearly half of its P300-billion investment approval target for 2026 after first-half commitments almost doubled, signaling sustained investor confidence as global manufacturers continue shifting supply chains toward Southeast Asia.

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the Department of Finance (DOF) have approved the lifting of the moratorium under Administrative Order (AO) 18, clearing the way for more office developments to qualify as Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) economic zones and expanding location options for information technology-business process management (IT-BPM) investors.

The Philippines is accelerating talks on two major trade fronts, aiming to conclude an updated economic partnership agreement with Japan by November while edging closer to a free trade deal with Canada as the Marcos administration pushes to expand export markets and attract more investments.