Int’l investors keen on PHL, says PNoy

3 priority sectors are tourism, agriculture, and infrastructure

MANILA/DAVOS, Switzerland (PhilAmPress) — Upbeat about the success of his roundtable meeting with big businessmen from Europe and senior financial executives from other parts of the world, President Benigno S. Aquino III said that a team of businessmen is visiting the Philippines anytime this year to explore business opportunities particularly in areas they are interested to invest in.
In a coffee meeting with the media at the Europe Hotel here before leaving for Manila, the President said the best meeting he had attended during the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting here was the roundtable meeting with global business groups which was arranged by the Ayala Corporation.
“We were able to touch base with so many other leaders of various countries like the Dutch Prime Minister,” the Chief Executive said.
The President said his meeting with the top businessmen, which, he said, was attended by business representatives from 35 business entities from Europe and other countries, was very successful.
“One of them, will be sending a team over to investigate possibilities to the Philippines,” the President said.
The President noted that some of these businessmen who attended the meeting have been in the country, like the Mitsubishi and Unilever among others.
“Then there are a lot of new entities. There is even an entity that wants to invest in the educational sector, but all of the details will be fleshed out later. But I think, there’s a universal consensus both by the participants and by the Cabinet members present and our business sector that it was a very “successful meeting,” he stressed.
In his speech upon arrival in Manila, the President expressed gladness at coming back to the warmer climate of the Philippines, saying the last time he had ever experienced below zero temperature was 30 years ago.
“Biruin po ninyo, mahigit tatlumpung taon na mula nang huli akong nakaranas ng winter, at talaga namang halos hindi makilala ang ating buong delegasyon sa sobrang pagkakabalot dahil sa ginaw. Siguro po ay matagal-tagal muling mapapahinga sa loob ng aparador ang guwantes, scarf, at overcoat na binaon natin sa ating pagbiyahe,” the President said.
The President disclosed the achievements of
his trip such as meeting with WEF founder and chief Professor Klaus Schwab and International Monetary Fund chief Christine Lagarde, keynoting the anti-corruption forum where he detailed programs to end corruption the country has adapted and inviting international business leaders meeting to invest in the Philippines.
“Dito po, nakita natin na napakarami talagang gustong sumakay sa pag-arangkada ng ating ekonomiya. Saksi po sila—Hindi tayo napako sa mga pangakong hatid ng agenda ng reporma. Ang mga kumpanyang matagal nang narito, ay magpapalawak ng kanilang operasyon, at niyaya ang mga kumpanyang Pilipinong sumali sa joint venture, hindi lang sa Pilipinas, kundi pati na rin sa ibang bansa,” the President said.
“Hindi rin po nagkulang ang mga bagong kumpanyang nagpahayag ng interes tumungo sa Pilipinas upang humanap ng angkop na negosyo. Pinuri po nilang lahat ang pangmatagalang istratehiya natin ng pamumuhunan sa ating mamamayan — sa pamamagitan ng edukasyon, kalusugan, at iba pang serbisyong panlipunan. Mula po sa mga kumpanyang nakatutok sa edukasyon at imprastruktura, hanggang sa retail at information technology, at marami pang iba– lahat sila, pumipila at nakikipag-ugnayan na sa atin; nakikita nila ang bagong mukha ng Pilipinas, at nagugustuhan nila ito,” he added.
The President also mentioned the warm welcome he and his delegation received from the overseas Filipino workers from Switzerland and nearby Lichtenstein whom he said embodied the true spirit of “bayanihan” and selflessness for other Filipinos.
“Ang ikinatutuwa ko nga po, saan mang panig ng mundo man tayo mapadpad, ganoon pa rin ang ipinapakitang mabubuting katangian ng Pilipino: Palaging may handang ngiti, palaging nag-uumapaw sa malasakit ang puso, at palaging handang makipag-bayanihan upang iangat ang kanilang kapwa,” the President said.
He pointed out that trips to other countries such as this and getting to meet fellow Filipinos always remind him of the potential of the Filipino to rise above and get ahead in life.
“Tunay nga po—sa tuwing dadayo ako sa ibang bansa, napapa-alalahanan ako sa matayog na potensyal at kapasidad ng Pilipino. Ilagay mo lang ang Pinoy sa tamang kundisyon, bigyan mo lang tayo ng pagkakataon, kaya nating umangat, kaya nating umasenso,” the President said.
“At ngayon nga po, nakikita na ng lahat, pinapatunayan na natin sa buong mundo—Hindi tayo mabibigo, handa tayong humarap sa anumang hamon, taas-noo nating isusulong ang ating mga sarili dito sa landas ng pagbabago,” he added. 
President Aquino invited European business leaders including other business executives from various parts of the world attending the World Economic Forum (WEF) Annual Meeting in Davos to explore potential areas of investments in the Philippines, as he cited some of the reforms initiated by the government to achieve inclusive growth.
President Aquino issued the invitation in his remarks before the roundtable with Global Business Executives at the sidelines of his participation to the WEF Annual Meeting here in Davos.
“These are truly exciting times for our country. We are realizing the long-untapped potential of our country, and we are here to invite you to join us, he said.
The President cited the three priority sectors for investing in the country, namely, tourism, agriculture, and infrastructure.
In the agriculture sector, the President said the Philippines is on its way to becoming an rice exporter.
“Since I came into office, our government has been working towards rice self-sufficiency by going back to the basics and helping our farmers through improved irrigation systems and a genuine certified seeds program,” the President said.
“Rice production has been increasing, and through these methods, we are on our way towards our next goal: becoming an exporter of rice,” he added.
On the country’s revitalized coconut industry, President Aquino said that in 2011, the Philippines has exported more than 16.7 million liters of coco water, up from the 483,862 liters of coco water in 2009.
He noted that that the coco coir fiber, transformed into geotextile materials, has among others, been found effective in erosion control. He added that the DPWH is already using this technology in their projects.
On tourism, President Aquino mentioned the Department of Tourism’s “It‘s More Fun in the Philippines” slogan because Filipinos have always been “proud of the beauty of our country, and of the hospitality of our people,” he said.
“To show them off, and to attract even more tourists to our shores, our Department of Tourism has embarked on a campaign to show the world that “It’s More Fun in the Philippines,” he added.
According to the President, publications like Conde Nast Traveller, the New York Times, and Travel + Leisure Magazine have cited the Philippines as a prime beach holiday destination.
He added that China’s Oriental Morning Post named the Philippines as “Best Tourist Destination” in its annual World Travel-Special Trips awards. The Shanghai Morning Post also identified the Philippines as the “Most Romantic Destination” in the world.

In his remarks, President Aquino likewise tagged the infrastructure as a priority sector, of his administration saying that it is a key to further growth and development in tourism and agriculture, among other sectors.
He also cited the World Economic Forum’s Global Competitiveness Report showing that the Philippines is lagging behind our ASEAN neighbors in terms of quality infrastructure.
“This presents an opportunity, because we are committed to closing this gap and increasing our competitiveness. Last year, disbursements for infrastructure reached an equivalent of 4.9 billion US dollars, and we have allotted 5.7 billion US dollars for this in 2013,” he said.
Part of the said allotment will go to the complete paving of the national road network by 2016, according to President Aquino. He said that since 2010, the DPWH has already completed 28 percent, or 2,006 kilometers, of the 7,256 kilometers of national arterial and secondary roads that needed paving.
The President further said that the Philippines is also improving connectivity all around the country through train systems in Metro Manila, the construction improvement of both domestic and international airports, and the exploration of a new nautical highway that could cut travel time between Luzon to Mindanao.
“We are exploring opportunities for the private sector to join us in these endeavors, and we hope that you will consider partnering with us in the future, towards our mutual benefit,” he said.
“All three sectors —agriculture, tourism, and infrastructure— represent areas that are already exhibiting rapid growth, among others that have shown resilience and strength over the past years,” he said.
In this connection, the President invited the businessmen here to meet with their counterparts in the Philippine business community to know what the investment opportunities are,n and learn from their experience of doing business under the Aquino administration.
“Those who have already bet on the Philippines have not been disappointed; they have seen the sincerity of our commitment to restoring integrity and leveling the playing field,” the President said. “This is a commitment we intend to keep with all who want to conduct honest, fair business in the Philippines.”
In closing, the President Aquino also cited the reforms that his administration has initiated to achieve inclusive growth, as well as the positive results it yielded.
Since 2010, the President said that the Philippine Stock Exchange Index has broken its own record high 70 times. The country has also been posting impressive economic growth, he said.
 Trade and industry Secretary Gregory Domingo, who was also present during the Coffee with the Media, said that the feedback after the the President’s roundtable meeting with the chairmen of big companies, CEOs, and other senior executives “was very positive.”
“And firms, including very big hedge funds based in the United States already indicated that they will be sending a team. Obviously some of them don’t want to be mentioned, so we cannot really mention by name. But they will be sending a team, which is the same thing,” Domingo said.
Domingo explained that the team would be coming over within the next few months of this year “to look at the possible investment opportunities.”
“No specific timetable, but usually when they say something like that, immediate na yan — just like what we saw in the Middle East, he added.
Domingo also said that the companies present during the roundtable meeting represented a wide variety of businesses from telecoms to manufacturing, to consumer products, to insurance, banking, education and even IT services among others.