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The Philippine Economic Zone Authority is wooing Vietnamese manufacturing firms to establish operations inside ecozones
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PEZA director general Tereso Panga is optimistic of prospects following Vietnamese President Tô Lâm’s state visit, which elevated bilateral ties to a comprehensive strategic partnership
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Two major Indonesian automotive companies have already entered PEZA ecozones, cited as a precedent for Vietnamese interest
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In April, PEZA hosted Vietnamese Ambassador Dr. Lai Thai Binh to discuss bilateral investment cooperation and a possible inbound delegation of Vietnamese companies
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VinFast Auto Ltd., part of Vietnam’s Vingroup conglomerate, is being courted to explore expansion into Philippine ecozones
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VinFast’s potential entry aligns with PEZA’s push to attract electric vehicle manufacturing, battery assembly, automotive electronics, and charging infrastructure investments
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PEZA is pitching the Philippines on its domestic market size, strategic location, skilled workforce, and preferential access to the United States and European Union
The Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) is wooing Vietnamese manufacturing firms to locate in Philippine ecozones following the state visit of Vietnamese President Tô Lâm, which elevated bilateral ties to a comprehensive strategic partnership.
“Following the recent entry of two major Indonesian automotive companies into the ecozones, we expect more Vietnamese manufacturing firms to consider locating in Philippine ecozones to take advantage of our growing domestic market, strategic location, skilled workforce, and preferential access to key destinations such as the United States and the European Union,” PEZA director general Tereso Panga said in a statement.
The two countries’ comprehensive strategic partnership is anticipated to open new opportunities for trade, investment, and industrial cooperation.
Panga said PEZA is well-positioned to capture the investment momentum generated by the diplomatic upgrade.
“The upgraded partnership opens new opportunities for Philippine and Vietnamese businesses to collaborate, integrate into regional supply chains, and strengthen their presence across ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) and global markets,” he said. “PEZA is well-positioned to support this growing economic engagement by providing Vietnamese investors with a competitive, investment-ready environment for regional expansion.”
Vietnamese business delegation
In April, PEZA welcomed Dr. Lai Thai Binh, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam to the Philippines, along with officials from the Vietnamese Embassy, to explore bilateral trade and investment cooperation within the ecozones.
Among the topics discussed was the possibility of organizing an inbound business delegation to the Philippines comprising Vietnamese companies, including electric vehicle maker VinFast Auto Ltd.
Part of Vietnam’s largest private conglomerate, Vingroup, VinFast is the first Vietnamese automotive brand to expand into global markets and the first to pivot into electric vehicle production, including electric cars and electric scooters.
READ: DHL supports VinFast’s EV supply chain requirements in PH
A decision by VinFast to establish operations in Philippine ecozones would complement PEZA’s ongoing campaign to attract investments in EV manufacturing, battery assembly, automotive electronics, charging infrastructure, and other sustainable mobility technologies.
PEZA has been actively positioning its ecozones as strategic locations for EV-related investments, offering investment-ready facilities, efficient logistics connectivity, and a competitive operating environment for export-oriented manufacturers. The agency said it also supports the government’s broader agenda to modernize the country’s transportation sector and accelerate the shift toward cleaner, more energy-efficient mobility solutions.
READ: PEZA approves 135 projects worth P125B in Jan-May 2026
PEZA said that while the Philippines and Vietnam are natural competitors for foreign direct investment and export market share, significant potential exists for the two ASEAN economies to achieve synergies through complementary industrial strategies.
READ: VietJet Cebu-Ho Chi Minh direct service starts Dec 11
The agency noted that Vietnam’s emergence as a regional manufacturing powerhouse offers lessons for the Philippines while simultaneously opening opportunities for deeper collaboration. By leveraging both countries’ respective strengths in manufacturing, logistics, technology, and human capital, he said, both nations could contribute to more resilient regional supply chains and deeper economic integration across Southeast Asia.
The push to deepen ASEAN economic ties carries added urgency against a backdrop of mounting global headwinds, including US tariffs, geoeconomic fragmentation, and supply chain disruptions. Rather than responding with retaliatory protectionist measures, ASEAN economies are pursuing a more unified and competitive regional market that promotes investment, facilitates trade, and strengthens supply chain resilience, according to PEZA.
“We in PEZA and our ecozones stand ready to serve as strategic gateways for ASEAN-based enterprises seeking to expand their regional and global footprint,” Panga said.
READ: ASEAN finalizes agreement to unlock $2T digital economy
