08/10/2026
Luzon Economic Forum in Japan
More than 200 Japanese business leaders and senior executives have expressed strong interest in investing in the Luzon Economic Corridor (LEC), as the Philippines positions itself as a strategic hub for advanced manufacturing, logistics, energy, digital infrastructure, and other high-value industries.
This enthusiasm was evident during the Philippine Investment Forum-Japan, which took place in Osaka on October 1 and in Tokyo on October 5, 2026. The event was organized by the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) in partnership with the Department of Trade and Industry–Philippine Trade and Investment Center (DTI-PTIC) and the Philippine Embassy in Japan.
The two-city investment roadshow directly showcased the Philippines’ investment potential to Japanese companies and business organizations, highlighting opportunities within the LEC—a key economic corridor linking Subic Bay, Clark, Metro Manila, and Batangas.
The corridor’s development aims to enhance connectivity, optimize supply chains, expand energy and digital infrastructure, and foster the growth of high-value industries.
At the Osaka forum, DTI-PTIC Osaka Commercial Counsellor and Director Michael Alfred Ignacio outlined the Philippines’ investment climate, emphasizing the country’s robust economic fundamentals and the promising prospects emerging from the LEC.
Similarly, in Tokyo, DTI-PTIC Tokyo Commercial Counsellor Froilan Emil Pamintuan presented a comprehensive overview of the investment environment, underscoring opportunities available to Japanese businesses.
This investment initiative aligns with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s economic agenda, which prioritizes attracting productive, long-term investments that bolster Filipino enterprises, develop local talent, integrate domestic suppliers into global value chains, and generate higher-value opportunities for Filipinos.
President Marcos Jr. recently described the LEC not merely as a collection of infrastructure projects but as “a strategy for organizing growth,” translating investments into tangible projects, jobs, enterprises, and economic opportunities for Filipinos.
“Japan has long been a cornerstone partner in the Philippines’ industrial development. The Luzon Economic Corridor offers us a chance to elevate that partnership into the next generation of industries,” said BCDA President and CEO Engr. Joshua M. Bingcang.
“As global supply chains evolve, the Philippines seeks to be a reliable, high-value partner for Japanese companies—providing a platform for long-term operations, local talent development, collaboration with Filipino suppliers, and participation in industries shaping the region’s future,” he added.
During the roadshow, the BCDA Group presented distinct investment opportunities across its strategic economic zones and development areas. Presenting entities included representatives from the John Hay Management Corporation (President and CEO Manjit Singh Reandi), Poro Point Management Corporation (President and CEO Servillano Flores Jr.), Clark Development Corporation (President and CEO Atty. Agnes VST Devanadera), Clark International Airport Corporation (President and CEO Joseph Alcazar), Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (Senior Deputy Administrator Renato Lee III), and LIPAD Corporation (Vice President for Commercial Development Eva Gabor-Tejada).
Private-sector partners such as Science Park of the Philippines and Filinvest Land also participated, sharing insights on the opportunities and prerequisites for investors seeking to establish or expand operations in the country. Companies including InfiniVAN, Marubeni Corporation, and Kansai Electric Power Company (KEPCO) showcased successful proof-of-concept projects that demonstrate the advantages of investing in the Philippines.
At Clark, investors explored opportunities in aviation, logistics, advanced manufacturing, digital infrastructure, and urban development, supported by facilities such as Clark International Airport, Clark Aviation Capital, Clark Freeport Zone, and the broader New Clark City ecosystem.
Subic was presented as a strategic maritime and industrial gateway, offering prospects in logistics, manufacturing, port development, energy, and international trade. Poro Point emphasized its potential as a northern Luzon hub for maritime trade, logistics, tourism, and commercial activities.
Camp John Hay highlighted its tourism, hospitality, and mixed-use development prospects, while Metro Manila remains a vital center for finance, professional services, technology, and access to the country’s largest pool of businesses and talent.
“For our Japanese partners, the Corridor represents an unprecedented opportunity. Japan has been foundational to Philippine economic progress and foreign direct investments. The Corridor offers a streamlined, supportive ecosystem designed to secure and diversify global supply chains,” said Hon. Donna Rodriguez, Philippine Consul General to Osaka.
Hon. Christian L. De Jesus, Deputy Chief of Mission at the Philippine Embassy to Japan, added, “Through its development projects and private-sector partnerships, BCDA creates modern, investment-ready environments that support businesses, generate employment, and foster sustainable growth.”
The forum also highlighted a robust pipeline of infrastructure and investment projects across the corridor, including developments in aviation and logistics, information and communications technology, energy transmission, water and wastewater facilities, and the proposed advanced manufacturing park in New Clark City.
“These platforms are increasingly interconnected. After years of physical infrastructure development across Luzon, we are now focusing on leveraging these connections to support deeper industrial linkages, stronger supply chains, and increased investment across the region,” said BCDA Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Atty. Gisela Z. Kalalo.
The Japan roadshow, held in collaboration with Science Park of the Philippines and Filinvest Land, represents BCDA’s ongoing commitment to link international investors with concrete opportunities across its strategic properties. It also supports the government’s broader goal of transforming infrastructure and investments into productive enterprises, enhanced Filipino capabilities, quality jobs, and sustained economic value.
Launched in 2024 by the Philippines, the United States, and Japan, the Luzon Economic Corridor is the first Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment (PGI) economic corridor in the Indo-Pacific region. Since then, the coalition has expanded to include other partner countries dedicated to strengthening resilient supply chains, infrastructure connectivity, energy security, and sustainable economic growth.
