Global infrastructure investment firm I Squared Capital is expanding its footprint in the Philippines with over $130 million in new investments in cold storage facilities, underscoring its long-term confidence in the country’s growth potential and commitment to supporting food security.
The new funding is part of the $2-billion committed investments the firm has made in the Philippines. It includes a $30-million expansion of Royale Cold Storage (RCS) in Plaridel, Bulacan and several other sites across the country that will collectively bring the firm’s total cold storage investments to over $100 million by 2026.
“This expansion is part of our incremental investments in the Philippines. We are investing in food security, but also in the infrastructure that underpins economic growth, from energy and logistics to digital connectivity,” said Sadek Wahba, I Squared Capital founder and managing partner.
Wahba said the Philippines stands out among emerging markets for its solid macroeconomic fundamentals, including a projected 5.7 percent to 6 percent growth rate, fiscal reforms and a young, skilled population.
He said I Squared Capital’s infrastructure investments create “economic force multipliers” that boost productivity, attract foreign direct investment, reduce poverty and create jobs, particularly in underserved regions.
Each RCS facility has the potential to employ more than 300 Filipinos, with the company’s total workforce now exceeding 1,500 across five sites.
To manage rising power costs in energy-intensive cold storage operations, Wahba said I Squared Capital is adopting a dual strategy of improving energy efficiency through artificial intelligence (AI)-driven technologies and expanding solar power integration.
About 20 percent of RCS’s energy consumption is sourced from rooftop solar panels, with plans to reach nearly 100 percent over time through the addition of battery storage systems for nighttime power use.
Beyond logistics and the cold chain, I Squared Capital is also pursuing opportunities in renewable energy, energy storage and digital infrastructure, including fiber networks, towers and data centers – areas the firm has heavily invested in across its 70-country portfolio.
Wahba, who previously served as chief executive of Morgan Stanley Infrastructure and as a United States presidential appointee to the National Infrastructure Advisory Council, said private capital plays a critical role in delivering public impact.
“Our investments align closely with the government’s Build Better More agenda,” he said.
“Infrastructure is the key to unlocking inclusive, long-term growth—and the Philippines is poised to lead,” said Wahba.
