With Manila capturing just US$9 billion of the region’s US$244 billion capital influx last year, analysts urge reforms to close the FDI gap
This shortfall has cast a spotlight on a corruption scandal that has roiled the country and dented investor confidence, analysts say, compounding long-standing systemic issues.
Southeast Asia overtook East Asia as the largest recipient subregion within “Developing Asia”, the report said, as total FDI inflows rose 10 per cent.
Investment was concentrated in high-value sectors such as semiconductors, electronics, communications and renewable energy, lifting the region’s total inflows to US$244.17 billion from US$222.50 billion the previous year.