Instead of complaining, talk about solutions

At the recent Nordic Ambassadors Forum hosted by the Nordic Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (NordCham) last week at the Dusit Thani Hotel in Makati, Denmark’s Ambassador Franz-Michael Mellbin’s remarks struck me the most as being direct and to the point in dealing with the Philippines’ current political and economic malady.

The gist of Ambassador Melbin’s speech was that even though there is a lot to complain about, instead of complaining, talk about solutions.

And the solutions, for the Danish envoy is clear and direct — adopting transparency in processes and digitalization to eliminate arbitrary assessments and institutionalize standardized processes.

He frankly criticized the Philippines’ “unfair tax systems for foreign companies” and “judgemental” tax assessment that “creates loopholes” for corruption as there are no clear standard processes that are followed.

“Having clarity in law and processes is important,” he said, especially if “government wants investors to come to the country.” He added further that “government must take bold steps to clean up.”

Ambassador Melbin acknowledged that President Marcos and Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla are working to bring to accountability those involved in corruption. The Philippine government, he commented, must “be ready (to) completely take the steps that are necessary, to actually punish (those who are corrupt).”

But Ambassador Melbin was also aware of the “unfortunately, a widespread culture, accepting (corruption)... and colonial practices in this country...we have to see how this really will play out”.

NordCham president Bo Lindqvist echoed Ambassador Melbin’s view, agreeing that without trust and transparency, which most Nordic countries adhere to, investments will not be forthcoming.

And there is no arguing latest investment statistics that already show, as of August, foreign direct investment inflows have dropped by 40.5 percent.

All four Nordic ambassadors of Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden, focused on the theme “Trust and Transparency: Nordic Values in Action,” highlighting how these values guide leadership, strengthen institutions and build partnerships.

Each discussed their own experiences that promote accountability, inclusiveness and good governance across sectors that can provide valuable lessons to apply in the Philippine context.

Based on NordCham’s synopsis of each of the presentation of the four Nordic envoy’s presentations, Ambassador Mellbin’s speech highlighted how Denmark’s culture of transparency and ethical governance reduces bureaucratic hurdles and strengthens public trust.

By institutionalizing clear rules and open access to information, Denmark minimizes corruption and encourages citizen confidence. These principles offer practical lessons for the Philippines in improving public sector accountability and building more efficient, trustworthy institutions.

Ambassador Saija Nurminen of Finland discussed how Finland maintains trust in media and information integrity, emphasizing independent journalism as a cornerstone of informed decision-making and societal resilience.

She discussed approaches to combating misinformation, strengthening communication channels, and ensuring that both citizens and businesses have access to reliable, accurate information, lessons highly relevant to the Philippine media and corporate landscape.

Sadly, though, the Philippines has already seen an erosion in media’s independence from political forces, as well as from commercial considerations to ensure continued financial viability, as well as from the explosion of alternative social media outlets that also offers distorted, misleading or biased information alternatives that government has not been able to regulate.

One major point that Ambassador Nurminen presented which I felt should also be taken to heart by the Philippines is education. According to the Finnish envoy, Finland teaches their children early on about transparency and accountability, instilling empathy about their country, government and environment.

The lack of quality education in the Philippines, unfortunately, has played a key role in the failure to make critical decisions on how we choose our leaders and interact with our government officials, and failing to adhere to standards of integrity and accountability.

Ambassador Christian Halaas Lyster of Norway, for his part, talked about the role of social trust and community solidarity in Norway, where strong networks and collaboration create stability and foster innovation. His session offered ideas on how Philippine companies and organizations can enhance community engagement, encourage cooperation and build social capital that supports sustainable development and corporate responsibility initiatives.

Sweden’s Ambassador Anna Ferry, for her part, highlighted how Sweden promotes trust in institutions through participatory governance, citizen involvement and accountability mechanisms. Her talk showcased ways that governments and businesses can actively engage stakeholders, implement ethical leadership practices and cultivate collaborative public-private partnerships, offering insights that could strengthen Philippine governance and business environments.

One important positive announcement from Sweden was that Swedish businesses in the Philippines remain confident about the country.

While Sweden’s continued optimism in the Philippines is a ray of good news, the flood control corruption issue is being used to further threaten the stability of the current administration at a time when the global economy is facing continued uncertainty that no less than International Monetary Fund managing director Kristalina Georgieva had described as the new normal in her guest piece for The Economist’s World Ahead 2026 issue.

According to Georgieva, “Fragmented trade, fiscal pressures, social unrest and rapid technological change are reshaping our world. But uncertainty is the new normal.”

And according to an index co-developed by IMF staff, overall policy uncertainty is at a record high. “How these forces will interact is hard to predict. But it is already clear that the policy choices countries make today will define the ultimate shape of the emerging landscape.”

Georgieva highlighted several priorities: from bringing down debt and rebuilding fiscal space to reducing excessive external imbalances, starting with domestic macroeconomic adjustments.

“To boost long-term growth prospects, countries will also need to foster innovation and entrepreneurship and maintain trade as an engine of growth,” she wrote.

Perhaps, with the sudden reshuffle announced by Malacanang as pressure mounts for more transparency and accountability from the ongoing investigation into the flood control corruption, newly appointed Executive Secretary Ralph Recto and Finance Secretary Frederick Go will take heed of the advice for transparency, digitalization and education.