President Benigno Aquino III on Wednesday encouraged business leaders from southeast Asian to countries to take advantage of the Philippines’ “economic upswing” and bring in more investments to the country.
Aquino also called on the members of the ASEAN Business Club to “expand” their connections and “form stronger relationships” with their Filipino counterparts while in the country for the World Economic Forum on East Asia.
“May I invite you then to consider joining us, working with us even more in harvesting the opportunities and potential in our country today?” Aquino said during his speech at the courtesy call of ABC in Malacanang.
“With the Philippines on an economic upswing and integration of ASEAN on the horizon, we are poised on the edge of even more meaningful progress, progress that we can realize today in this visit and what I will trust will be many more visits to come,” he said.
Aquino cited the country’s high economic growth, credit ratings upgrades, the election of reform-oriented officials, and passage of “politically complex” laws that had long languished in Congress.
“No longer are we the sick man in Asia, we are now Asia’s bright spot: a viable destination for investments and tourists,” Aquino said.
“The success story of the Philippines thus far is proof positive that with the desire to uplift our fellow men and the dedication to work alongside each other, we can reach greater heights,” he added. — NB, GMA News
