MANILA — Job creation in the Philippines is expected to get a boost as additional businesses have expressed interest in starting operations in the country, Trade and Industry Secretary Cristina Roque said Monday.

Roque told reporters she will travel to South Korea from December 17 to 19 to meet with four investors, whose identities she declined to disclose.

“We’re hoping to get also into retail sector to have more jobs,” she said, without elaborating.

Aside from retail, Roque said the businesses of the four investors are also involved in the food industry. She expressed optimism that these investments will provide balanced employment opportunities, not limited to the manufacturing sector.

Earlier, the Board of Investments reported it had approved around 261 projects worth PHP816.81 billion as of the end of November, with 10 additional major projects currently under assessment.