Sumitomo Mitsui Finance and Leasing Co. Ltd. (SMFL) is expanding its Philippine footprint after completing the acquisition of a 30 percent stake in RCBC Leasing & Finance Corp. (RLFC), positioning the Japanese financial services group to tap growing demand for leasing and asset financing.

A University of the Philippines study is urging the government to consider using the Maharlika Investment Fund (MIF) to finance a dedicated semiconductor development fund that could help the Philippines move into higher-value segments of the global chip industry.

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) is targeting the settlement of outstanding incentives under the Comprehensive Automotive Resurgence Strategy (CARS) program within the year before fully rolling out a new generation of automotive incentives, including the Electric Vehicle Incentive Strategy (EVIS).