Shuli Ren, Columnist

Slim Pickings in Philippine Family Values

The country has plenty of promise but limited opportunities for foreign investors.
Photographer: Jes Aznar/Getty Images
Lock
This article is for subscribers only.

A fast-growing economy with a vibrant young workforce, the Philippines has all the right metrics to be an investment hot spot. But it's not an easy place for foreigners to find opportunities -- and that's not because of President Rodrigo Duterte, whose drug war and anti-U.S. invective caused an exodus of funds last year.

As M&A lawyers and bankers crowded into the AVCJ Private Equity & Venture Forum in Manila this week, the topic that dominated discussions was the difficulty of identifying investment targets.