By Leslie Venzon
MANILA, (PNA) — European companies are keen on investing more in the Philippines in the next few years, encouraged by its robust economic growth and well-educated workforce.
“We have already a lot of investments in the areas of energy, transport, logistics and also manufacturing… And there are so many (more interested),” Walter Van Hattum, head of the Trade Section at European Union delegation to the Philippines, said in an interview Wednesday on the sideline of a business forum.
Hattum said the EU has seven billion euros worth of investment stock in the Philippines which have been already providing a lot of good quality jobs here.
“There can be much more versus last year… You have competitive advantage skills. People speak English well, very well educated. And you have this incredible market which is booming now; a 7.6-percent growth attracts investors because they can sell in the domestic market,” he said.
Hattum described the Philippines an interesting market also on the back of its regulatory environment conducive to more investments.
“You are providing a predictable, stable regulatory environment to investors that they feel well competitive. And not suddenly change (policies) that make the climate completely different,” he noted.
The EU is now the largest investor in the world, Hattum said adding “I think it should not be difficult to increase European presence in the Philippines.”