By Karen Lema
MANILA, Oct 15 (Reuters) - The Philippine government must provide a predictable and secure business environment if it wants investors to commit billions of dollars to its planned infrastructure projects, the Asian Development Bank said.
The poor Southeast Asian nation is trying to attract private funds for long-term infrastructure projects, but corruption, red tape, procedural hassles and regulatory uncertainties are significant deterrents for potential investors.
'It needs to go that extra mile and create that credibility that I am taking the right actions, I am addressing taxation issues, I am assuring you, as the investor, that my policies are predictable... my judicial system will uphold your contractual rights,' Neeraj Jain, the ADB's country director for the Philippines, told Reuters on Friday.
Constrained by a budget deficit forecast at 3.9 percent of GDP this year and pressing social spending needs, the government is banking on public-private partnerships (PPP) to fund infrastructure investments that it hopes will lift economic growth to 7 to 8 percent in 2011 and beyond.
'I encourage you to participate in the building of airports, roads and rail projects, transport terminals, water supply, and agriculture support facilities, among others,' President Benigno Aquino said at a business conference in Manila on Friday.
Last month, the government identified 10 priority PPP projects, including seven worth nearly 128 billion pesos ($3 billion), and Aquino said the plan would be launched next month.
'We are simplifying the process of establishing a business... stamping out red tape, as well as in improving infrastructure, and relaxing regulations on air travel to and from the country,' he said.
Foreign funds are pouring into the Philippines but in favour of the more volatile portfolio investment rather than longer-term investment, such as in factories.
This year's foreign direct investment up to July totalled $954 million, an average of $136 million a month, while net portfolio inflows up to September were $1.42 billion, an average of $157 million a month.
FDI is lower than the same year-earlier period, while portfolio investment is more than six times greater.
The stock market hit a record high this week and is up 38 percent this year. The peso has gained about 7 percent against the dollar and risen to its strongest in 2-½ years.
'The new administration has set the right tone, is taking the right actions, it has set its sights in the right direction, it is inspiring confidence of the investors... it needs now to take action on the promises that it is making,' the ADB's Jain said.
(Editing by John Mair) ((If you have a query or comment on this story, send an email to news.feedback.asia@thomsonreuters.com) Keywords: PHILIPPINES ECONOMY/ (karen.lema@thomsonreuters.com; +632 841-8938; Reuters Messaging: karen.lema.reuters.com@reuters.net) COPYRIGHT Copyright Thomson Reuters 2010. All rights reserved. The copying, republication or redistribution of Reuters News Content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Thomson Reuters.
MANILA, Oct 15 (Reuters) - The Philippine government must provide a predictable and secure business environment if it wants investors to commit billions of dollars to its planned infrastructure projects, the Asian Development Bank said.
The poor Southeast Asian nation is trying to attract private funds for long-term infrastructure projects, but corruption, red tape, procedural hassles and regulatory uncertainties are significant deterrents for potential investors.
'It needs to go that extra mile and create that credibility that I am taking the right actions, I am addressing taxation issues, I am assuring you, as the investor, that my policies are predictable... my judicial system will uphold your contractual rights,' Neeraj Jain, the ADB's country director for the Philippines, told Reuters on Friday.
Constrained by a budget deficit forecast at 3.9 percent of GDP this year and pressing social spending needs, the government is banking on public-private partnerships (PPP) to fund infrastructure investments that it hopes will lift economic growth to 7 to 8 percent in 2011 and beyond.
'I encourage you to participate in the building of airports, roads and rail projects, transport terminals, water supply, and agriculture support facilities, among others,' President Benigno Aquino said at a business conference in Manila on Friday.
Last month, the government identified 10 priority PPP projects, including seven worth nearly 128 billion pesos ($3 billion), and Aquino said the plan would be launched next month.
'We are simplifying the process of establishing a business... stamping out red tape, as well as in improving infrastructure, and relaxing regulations on air travel to and from the country,' he said.
Foreign funds are pouring into the Philippines but in favour of the more volatile portfolio investment rather than longer-term investment, such as in factories.
This year's foreign direct investment up to July totalled $954 million, an average of $136 million a month, while net portfolio inflows up to September were $1.42 billion, an average of $157 million a month.
FDI is lower than the same year-earlier period, while portfolio investment is more than six times greater.
The stock market hit a record high this week and is up 38 percent this year. The peso has gained about 7 percent against the dollar and risen to its strongest in 2-½ years.
'The new administration has set the right tone, is taking the right actions, it has set its sights in the right direction, it is inspiring confidence of the investors... it needs now to take action on the promises that it is making,' the ADB's Jain said.
(Editing by John Mair) ((If you have a query or comment on this story, send an email to news.feedback.asia@thomsonreuters.com) Keywords: PHILIPPINES ECONOMY/ (karen.lema@thomsonreuters.com; +632 841-8938; Reuters Messaging: karen.lema.reuters.com@reuters.net) COPYRIGHT Copyright Thomson Reuters 2010. All rights reserved. The copying, republication or redistribution of Reuters News Content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Thomson Reuters.
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