The additional tariff imposed on exports to the U.S. has not slowed the take-up at industrial estates owned by Aboitiz InfraCapital (AIC) Economic Estates.
“It’s not slowing down. I would say business as usual for us is a constant flow,” said Monica Lorenzana Trajano, AIC Economic Estates vice president and head of commercial strategy, during a press briefing Tuesday, August 19.
Trajano explained that this constant flow reflects their “constantly expanding” footprint, providing visibility of the scale of their operations to international locators.
As foreign investors witness their world-class ecosystem, they naturally gravitate toward AIC as a supplier of facilities for their industrial expansion.
Trajano further noted that their competition is not local, and that foreign investors can compare what other countries offer.
“So, tariff-wise, I wouldn’t say there is a slowdown. I think it’s still consistent, if not faster for some markets, if I have to think about that,” said Trajano.
In fact, Trajano said their locators are primarily in the electronics supply chain downstream.
For the electronics supply chain, investors are looking at a China-plus-one strategy, which could involve another ASEAN country such as Vietnam or Thailand, and an additional option, which could be the Philippines.
“That’s what we’re seeing right now. So, if you think about it, I could be somewhere else apart from China. Maybe there’s more, in terms of diversification—understanding what ecosystems of support are available that could also expand their market reach,” said Trajano.
The Aboitiz industrial estates are also seeing many foreign companies recognizing the strength of the domestic market, even if they are export-oriented.
“We’re seeing proof of concept in our estates,” she added.
So far, AIC Economic Estates is one of Asia’s leading developers of industrial-anchored mixed-use estates, with over 2,000 hectares of developed land, more than 250 locators, and over 100,000 jobs generated across key growth areas in Luzon and the Visayas.
Its portfolio includes LIMA Estate in Batangas, MEZ2 Estate in Cebu, West Cebu Estate in Balamban, and TARI Estate in Tarlac.
These estates are supported by a comprehensive ecosystem of infrastructure and services powered by the Aboitiz Group, including Aboitiz InfraCapital Water, Aboitiz Power, Aboitiz Construction, Aboitiz Land, and UnionBank.
