MANILA – The country can expect more foreign investments following its participation at the World Economic Forum (WEF) Annual Meeting 2025 in Davos, Switzerland.
Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez said the results of the productive engagements of the Philippine delegation would create more jobs to propel economic growth.
“The discussions we held in Davos reaffirm the immense potential of the Philippines as a key destination for global investments,” Romualdez said in a news release on Sunday.
He said the team is grateful to President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. for sending a delegation that showcased the many reasons why global investors should choose the Philippines.
“The reception has been overwhelmingly positive and I am confident that this will translate to more investments that will fuel our economic growth,” he added.
Romualdez lauded the Philippine delegation composed of Finance Secretary Ralph Recto, Trade and Industry Secretary Trade Secretary Ma. Cristina Roque, and business leaders from various sectors for their significant contributions to promoting the country’s economic opportunities.
“I thank my fellow delegates for their tireless efforts and invaluable contributions in generating global interest in the Philippines,” Romualdez said.
“From highlighting our young and dynamic workforce to presenting our pro-business policies such as the CREATE MORE (Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprises to Maximize Opportunities for Reinvigorating the Economy) law and the Maharlika Investment Fund, we have successfully demonstrated that the Philippines is a viable and vibrant investment destination,” he added.
Key engagements
Romualdez participated in high-level discussions and engaged with prominent global business leaders and officials, including his participation as a panelist in the Stakeholder Dialogue titled “Navigating Asia’s Hotspots,” where he emphasized the country’s balanced geopolitical approach and commitment to economic stability.
“We presented a clear narrative of the Philippines as a reliable partner in the Indo-Pacific region, not only geopolitically but also economically. Our focus is on fostering peace, stability and cooperation, which are vital for sustained growth,” he said.
The country’s delegation also hosted the Philippine Breakfast Interaction, which convened close to 50 international public and private sector leaders for a briefing on the Philippine economy and its potential as the next big investment destination.
Among the notable guests during the event were Marcus Wallenberg, chair of Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken; Philippe Amon, chair and CEO of SICPA SA; Catarina Amon, CEO and founder of Classeek; Anthony Tan, CEO and co-Founder of Grab; John Riady, Group CEO of Lippo Indonesia; Tony Fernandes, CEO of AirAsia; and Calvin Choi, CEO of AMTD.
Also present were Jay Collins, vice chair of Citi; Helena Lersch, vice president of Public Policy of Tiktok; Amit Kalyani, vice chairman and joint managing director of Kalyani Strategic Systems Limited; and Albert Chang, managing partner of Southeast Asia, McKinsey & Co., among others.
During the discussions, the Philippine delegation showcased its robust domestic economy driven by e-commerce, making the country the fastest-growing digital economy in Southeast Asia in 2024.
Investment-friendly Reforms
The Philippine delegation likewise highlighted legislative reforms under the Marcos administration as concrete manifestations of the readiness of the country to listen to investors’ concerns.
In particular, they cited the CREATE MORE law, signed by President Marcos in November last year.
The CREATE MORE law is meant to accelerate investment momentum by offering enhanced tax incentives, streamlining the investment approval process, simplifying VAT rules, and providing targeted incentives for strategic investments.
He said the WEF once again placed the country on global investors’ radar, giving opportunities to the Philippines which is ready to turn them into concrete investments that will accelerate progress. (PNA)