Investments in Ph ecozones up 6 pct in 9 months

MANILA, Philippines (Xinhua) - Investments in Philippine economic zones rose by 6.18 percent on year to P148.21 billion ($3.3 billion) in January to September, the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) said today.

PEZA Director-General Lilia de Lima said most of the projects approved by the agency were in manufacturing and that 60 percent were for expansion.

"We haven't reached our target of growing investments by 10 percent (but) we're on our way to achieving it. Most of the projects, particularly big-ticket projects come in during the last quarter of the year," said de Lima.

PEZA also said exports from the country's economic zones went up by 3.8 percent on year to $29.02 billion in January to August.