Ayala optimistic on Philippines long-term growth

MANILA, Philippines — Ayala Corp., the country’s oldest conglomerate, is keeping its optimism on the long-term growth of the Philippines following a year of new ventures and innovative initiatives.

Ayala said it is closing 2025 with renewed commitment to supporting the country’s long-term growth, with the past year seeing the group expand its reach through its emerging businesses.

The conglomerate successfully sealed partnerships with global firms this year to bring the world’s best to the Philippines, and the best of the Philippines to the world.

“This year, Ayala entered into new partnerships, new ventures and undertook historic firsts. This is the power of a more connected Ayala,” Ayala president and CEO Cezar Consing said.

“We enter the new year with a renewed commitment to create value by supporting the country’s long-term growth,” Consing said.

To grow exposure to retail, Ayala has teamed up with the United Arab Emirates’ top premium fresh food supermarket brand Spinneys to open stores in the Philippines.

Ayala likewise partnered with Thailand’s CP AXTRA, Asia’s leading operator of wholesale and retail businesses Makro and Lotus’s, to explore the development of new businesses and co-investments in both the Philippines and Thailand.

For its logistics business, the group teamed up with Danish infrastructure fund manager A.P. Moller Capital, which is acquiring 40 percent of AC Logistics, to allow the company to scale its operations and serve evolving logistics requirements in the Philippines.

Singapore-based impact investor ABC Impact, meanwhile, infused primary capital into AC Health, Ayala’s health care arm, to expand the company’s network of hospitals, clinics and pharmacies.

Ayala also raised capital through innovative financing deals to drive business growth and support sustainability-focused ventures.

At the start of the year, Ayala raised $100 million through a blended finance deal with the Asian Development Bank and Canadian Climate and Nature Fund for the Private Sector in Asia.