‘PHL must fix FDI gap; invest in infrastructure, agriculture’ (opens original article in a new tab)

The Philippines needs to address its FDI gap by investing in infrastructure and agriculture to achieve faster economic growth, according to economist Bernardo Villegas.

• Philippines lags behind Southeast Asian neighbors in attracting foreign direct investments (FDIs) due to historical ultra-nationalist policies and foreign ownership restrictions.
• Economist Bernardo Villegas highlights the need for increased infrastructure investment and agricultural development to boost economic growth.
• Vietnam's higher FDIs and successful agricultural exports contrast with the Philippines' underinvestment in these sectors.