Trust company sees sustained robust growth for PH economy

An official of the investment management arm of AIA Philippines is optimistic on the robust growth of the domestic economy as the manufacturing sector continues to expand.

Pacis also identified demographic dividends as among the factors that will help boost domestic growth this year given the large number of young people who are part of the workforce.

P70.04-billion for loans to other developmental projects which include financial and insurance activities, manufacturing, wholesale and retail trade, accommodation, and food services.

“DBP’s outstanding loans for environment-related projects totaled P54.62 billion, P32.14-billion for the MSME sector, and about P45.58-billion for projects in the agriculture sector in line with the food sufficiency program of the National Government,” said de Jesus.

In a briefing on Thursday, AIA Investment Management and Trust Corporation Philippines (AIAIM Philippines) chief executive officer Angie Pacis said the country’s manufacturing sector is expected to continue posting expansion following the seven-month high manufacturing index in January 2023.

“Notwithstanding the slight weakening of the business confidence and consumer confidence, businesses will still be on a growth track,” she said.

The S&P Global Manufacturing Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) hit 53.5 in the first month this year. An index of 50 and above indicate expansion while those below 50 indicate contraction.

Pacis said forecasts point to continued 50-level index in the coming months.

“It’s a young population, it’s a big population with a growing middle class that is actually becoming stronger. Because of that, we will continue to attract investments notwithstanding some of the structural problems,” she added.

These factors are seen to boost one-year-old AIAIM Philippine business, which currently offers three unit investment trust funds (UITFS) namely AIA Peso Adventurous Fund, AIA Peso Balanced Fund and AIA Peso Conservative Fund.

Pacis said the products they are offering are exclusively available for AIA Philippines policy holders for now, while the assets amounting to PHP155 billion they currently have will be handled purely without catering to outside investors.