Despite headwinds, CEOs remain bullish on ʼ25

Geopolitical tensions, uneven economic growth and the prospect of slower monetary easing are among the concerns keeping chief executive officers up at night.

But despite these headwinds, business leaders remain generally optimistic about their growth prospects in 2025.

We asked some of these pillars of the local business community about where they plan to take their respective companies this year that will likely see more than its fair share of upheavals.

Anton Huang

President
SSI Group Inc.

In 2025, SSI Group is poised to take retail to even greater heights with exciting plans and launches that reflect our vision for the future.

We are thrilled to introduce two globally recognized brands in the athleisure segment, addressing the growing demand for stylish and functional activewear that complements the dynamic lifestyles of Filipino consumers.

In addition to fashion, we are also expanding our footprint in the food and beverage sector with the launch of two brand-new concepts that will bring unique culinary experiences to our market.

These initiatives will further strengthen our position as a multi-faceted lifestyle retailer.

A key highlight for the year will be the much-anticipated reopening of our expanded Zara flagship store at Greenbelt 5.

This reimagined space will redefine the shopping experience, combining cutting-edge design, innovative store concepts and a renewed focus on service and convenience.

Looking ahead, our goals remain steadfast: to create unparalleled shopping experiences by curating the world’s best brands, refining our in-store services, and introducing fresh and innovative concepts.

By continuing to nurture our relationships with customers and brand partners, we are confident that 2025 will be another year of growth, innovation and meaningful connections for the SSI Group.

[We are building on the gains] in 2024, which was a landmark year for SSI Group, marked by significant milestones and accolades that highlight our commitment to excellence in retail.

We proudly introduced new brands to the Philippine market, including the fine Italian chocolate and gelato brand Venchi, iconic luxury labels such as Versace, Chloé and Boggi, and globally renowned beauty brands like Chanel Beauty, Dior Beauty and Maison Margiela Fragrances.

These additions not only reflect our dedication to curating exceptional retail experiences but also underscore our ability to anticipate and meet the evolving preferences of Filipino consumers.

The year was also a time of celebration as we marked the 25th anniversary of Beauty Bar and the 10th year of Old Navy in the Philippines, milestones that signify the lasting connections we have cultivated with our customers.

Additionally, we took a bold step in regional luxury retail with the opening of flagship stores for Givenchy, Kenzo, Loewe, Saint Laurent and Versace at NuStar Cebu, creating a world-class luxury shopping destination outside of Metro Manila.

Crowning these achievements, SSI Group was once again recognized on Forbes’ prestigious Top 200 Under a Billion list for the second consecutive year, a testament to our resilience, growth and commitment to delivering excellence.

This recognition reflects the strength of our brand portfolio, our operational performance, and the trust placed in us by our stakeholders.

These milestones collectively showcase SSI Group’s ability to innovate and lead in the retail sector, as we continue to provide meaningful and memorable experiences for our customers.

Kais Marzouki

Chair and CEO
Nestlé Philippines

I am proud of our team for their remarkable resilience and grit that have enabled our performance [in 2024].

I take deep satisfaction knowing that we have made a real difference in people’s lives, strengthening our contributions in serving the health and wellness needs of Filipino families with food fortification, product innovations and nutrition education; further building on our programs to help coffee farmers raise productivity and incomes; and tackling plastic waste comprehensively, while minimizing our own environmental footprint as we confront climate change.

In 2025, I am confident that we will rise to any challenges together with our partners and most of all with the trust and support of our consumers.

Edgar injap Sia II

CEO
DoubleDragon Properties Corp.

2025 is the defining moment in DoubleDragon’s 13-year history.

In 13 years, DoubleDragon worked its way up from a startup company, to a Tier 3 company, to a Tier 2 company and this year, the journey begins to become a Tier 1 company.

DoubleDragon expects 2025 to be the most significant year in its history since the DoubleDragon joint venture between myself and Tony Tan Caktiong came to life 13 years ago in 2012.

This year, DoubleDragon expects to generate the largest equity increase in its history from its multiple capital initiatives in the pipeline, with the upcoming Hotel101 Global US equity listing and equity follow-on and the CentralHub REIT listing expected to raise a total of P51.3 billion in fresh equity capital.

The fresh equity inflows this year are expected to be the largest ever in DoubleDragon’s history, and myself and our team are ready to think sharper and work harder like never before to make 2025 one of the most remarkable years in DoubleDragon’s history.

We are set to complete next week, on Jan. 28, the filing for the upcoming Nasdaq listing, and we expect the whole listing process to be completed this quarter.

In summary, we see 2025 as the year that DoubleDragon becomes a Tier 1 enduring company that is poised to stand the test of time, and to begin 2025 fully equipped to further grow stronger towards DoubleDragon’s set vision for 2035.

The five goals of DoubleDragon from this point toward 2035 are very clear and straightforward.

These are for DoubleDragon to exceed P500 billion in global consolidated annual revenues and exceed P50 billion in annual net income level, for DoubleDragon to complete its footprint in all 82 provinces in the Philippines, for Hotel101 Global to have planted its footprint in 100 countries, for DoubleDragon to become a totally debt-free company, and generate annual cash dividends exceeding P12 billion, derived from revenues from various foreign currencies flowing back to the Philippine-listed DoubleDragon.

Very soon, DoubleDragon should become one of the major multi-foreign currency recurring inflow generators to the Philippine economy.

Myself as a committed and passionate Filipino entrepreneur, the vision we set are carefully planned, deeply thought of, and once set we intensely execute.

It is my life dream to see DoubleDragon in the next decade in 2035 become one of the major pillars of the Philippine economy, with operations globally while bringing massive contribution to nation building, and through Hotel101 endeavor to positively carry the Filipino flag in all the countries it eventually operates in.