The Philippines has become a favoured destination for foreign investors despite global and domestic risks. Foreign direct investment in the Philippines in the last two years was at approximately $10 billion per year, with investors from Japan, the United, The Netherlands, Singapore, and Hong Kong leading the way.

In respect of Japan specifically, Philippine-Japanese trade continues to be robust. In March 2019, the Philippine government announced that $1.24 billion worth of investment pledges from Japanese companies had been secured in various sectors, including infrastructure, manufacturing, agriculture, retail, real estate, automotive, and education. These investment pledges came from major Japanese companies such as Mitsubishi Corporation, Mitsui OSK Lines Ltd., Itochu Corporation, and Sumitomo, among others. Addressing concerns of Japanese investors during a recent visit to Japan, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte stated that the government would “kill roadblocks” to investing in the Philippines. But investor concerns go beyond mere delays in or the ease of doing business in the country.