The Philippine government welcomed Mitsubishi Corp.’s planned $700-million investment in Ayala Corp., which will strengthen the two companies’ joint projects in smart city development, digital finance and infrastructure in the country.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. met with the leadership of Mitsubishi and Ayala on October 11 at the Hilton Singapore Orchard to discuss the investment, which is expected to be among the largest foreign equity investments in the Philippines in recent years.

Joined by Finance Secretary Frederick Go and Trade and Industry Secretary Cristina Roque, the President reaffirmed the government’s strong support for such investments, which advance the country’s long-term economic growth.

“Mitsubishi’s capital commitment demonstrates the strength of Philippine-Japanese economic ties and reflects strong foreign investor confidence in the country’s economic fundamentals. The DTI is fully committed to facilitating strategic partnerships that scale industrial capacity, improve infrastructure development, and create high-value employment across the country,” Roque said.

Under an agreement signed on September 21, Mitsubishi will acquire primary and secondary Ayala shares, including through a voluntary tender offer. Upon completion, its economic stake in Ayala will increase from 4.7 percent to 15 percent, with a 20 percent voting interest. The transaction is targeted for completion within Mitsubishi’s fiscal year ending March 2027, subject to regulatory approvals and tender offer requirements.

Of the total investment, $315 million will be paid to Ayala Corp. for debt reduction, share repurchases, and future growth. The transaction builds on a partnership dating back to Mitsubishi’s first investment in Ayala in 1974, with the companies seeking deeper collaboration in infrastructure, energy transition, real estate, digital technologies, mobility, and logistics.

The meeting also evaluated progress from three Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) on intelligent cities, digital finance, and marketing and advertising technology signed during Marcos’s State Visit to Tokyo in May 2026.

Discussions also covered opportunities along the Luzon Economic Corridor connecting Subic and Clark. Ayala and Mitsubishi, which developed Laguna Technopark with Kawasaki Steel in 1989 as one of the country’s first industrial parks, expressed interest in replicating that success with new industrial capacity in Central Luzon.

The Philippine delegation reaffirmed the government’s commitment to fostering a more business-friendly environment through ease-of-doing-business reforms, renewable energy initiatives, and streamlined government processes to support Mitsubishi’s expansion in the Philippines.

“Mitsubishi’s continued investments reflect its confidence in the Philippines and the opportunities our economy offers. We are encouraged by the deepened partnership that Ayala and Mitsubishi are looking at in the Philippines, particularly those aligned with the Luzon Economic Corridor (LEC) initiative, which will help strengthen key industries, attract more investments, and create greater opportunities for Filipinos,” Secretary Frederick D. Go said.

On data centers, the President emphasized that power and water facilities should be developed alongside them to avoid straining supply for communities, with Mitsubishi’s experience in liquefied natural gas (LNG) and gas-to-power cited as a potential contribution.

“This strategic alliance between two industry titans shows the significance of high-impact investments in driving our economic transformation. Through robust policy frameworks like the CREATE MORE Act and expedited Green Lanes, the DTI stands ready to provide seamless regulatory facilitation to ensure that these strategic investments swiftly transition into operational success,” Roque added. DTI Public Relations Division