Foreign direct investments rose by a fifth in 2013–BSP

Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines–Foreign direct investments (FDI) rose by a fifth in 2013 as the country stood out as one the top investment destinations in the region last year.

Data from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) showed a 20 percent increase in net inflows of FDIs to $3.86 billion from $3.2 billion last year.

The increase in FDI during the year was buoyed by investors’ confidence in the country’s sound macroeconomic fundamentals,” the BSP said in a statement.

FDIs, which are long-term investments in the country by foreigners, can come in the form of new companies setting up shop in the country or multinationals choosing to reinvest money earned in the Philippines into their existing local operations.

Loans from multinationals to their subsidiaries in the country are also considered as FDIs.