Ecozone investments jump 63%

Investments in the country’s various economic zones soared by 63 percent to P15.122 billion during the period Jan. 1 to April 15 this year, the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) said.

In a report to Trade and Industry Secretary Manuel Roxas II, PEZA Director General Lilia B. de Lima said these investments are expected to generate direct employment to 11,632 workers.

During the period, De Lima said they approved 27 expansion projects worth P7.292 billion, plus 21 new export enterprises with a total project cost of P5.266 billion.

Five information technology enterprises were also approved by the PEZA with a total project cost of P1.633 billion.

There was only one ecozone service enterprise approval with a project cost of P5 million.

De Lima added that during the April 5 meeting of the PEZA board, six new projects were approved with a total project cost of P658.628 million. The new projects are expected to result in exports amounting to P14.252 million which would generate 595 new jobs.

The six new approved projects are those of Bayantrade.com amounting to P425 million; the P4.2-million manufacturing facility of Integrated Microelectronics, Inc.; the $94.641-million project of Southwin Inc.; the P6.154-million garments manufacturing facility of Ekhad Philippines, Inc.; Dae Kyung Phils. Co.’s P5.057-million manufacturing facility and Toritsu Industry Cebu, Inc.