Noy: Philippines back on investment radar

MANILA, Philippines - Filipinos can now hold their heads up before the world with a new face and image, according to President Aquino.

Speaking yesterday upon his return from Switzerland, where he attended the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Aquino said the Philippines has received universal praise and was back on the radar of investors and the international community.

“We have to give face to the good news that the country is enjoying now,” he said. “What I can say is this: we did not lose face. Our achievements are really being looked up to and in all honesty, I felt their excitement to follow the path of good governance because of our good example.”

Aquino said he met with WEF founder Klaus Schwab, who praised the country’s reforms and proposed that the Philippines host the East Asian event of WEF next year.

The President was happy to announce that the “Sick Man of Asia” had revved up and would host an important regional meeting.

Aquino said International Monetary Fund director Christine Lagarde reiterated her praise for the new system in the Philippines, with justice and fairness for all that resulted in stability and leveling of the playing field.

During the anti-corruption forum in Davos, Aquino said he was able to speak with the leaders of Mongolia, Peru and India and share thoughts on treading the right path.

He noted that his roundtable meeting with global business executives was jampacked.

Aquino said it was at this forum – arranged with the help of Filipino industrialists Jaime and Fernando Zobel de Ayala – where he felt that many foreign investors wanted to take advantage of the momentum and reforms in the Philippine economy.

Aquino said companies already in the Philippines would like to expand operations while others would come and send investment teams to assess opportunities.

The country’s pursuit of inclusive growth by investing in the people and going back to basics was lauded in Davos, he added.

Together with Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak, Aquino explained to the WEF delegates the current situation in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

Aquino thanked Filipinos in Zurich for their donation for the victims of typhoon “Pablo.”

All Filipinos must work together to continue the changes now happening in the Philippines, he said.

Aquino reiterated his dream to make the country a land of equal opportunity so Filipinos would all consider returning home for good.

“Really, every time I travel abroad, I am reminded of the great potential and capabilities of the Filipinos,” he said. “Just put the Pinoys in the right condition, give them opportunities and we can rise up and succeed.”

He added: “All of us can see, we are proving to the world: we will not fail, we are ready to face the challenge, and we will push ourselves to the path of changes with heads held up high.”

Filipinos can succeed and it would be up to them to make the move, Aquino said.