Presidents Aquino elated over roundtable meeting
with top business executives and financial officers from Europe and other
countries; says one team is visiting the Philippines to look business
opportunities
DAVOS,
Switzerland) 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 on Friday (Swiss time),
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 ehich 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, wll 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.
Meanwhile, 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."
"Walang specific timetable, but usually
when they say something like that, immediate na yan -- just like what we saw in
the Middle East as well dati, 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.
PND (rda)
President Aquino calls on Filipino Overseas
Workers in Switzerland to unite
ZURICH,
Switzerland) President Benigno S. Aquino III called on the members of the
Filipino community here to unite and continue to tread the straight path as he
moves to implement the various reforms needed to effect the country's march
towards progress and development.
The Chief
Executive, who arrived here to attend the annual meeting of the World Economic
Forum from January 23 to 27, spearheaded the greet-and-meet activity with the
Filipino community at the Renaissance Hotel here to personally oversee their
condition.
In his
speech, the President shared the positive changes and the economic developments
back home during the last two and a half years of his administration, including
the confidence of the international community in the Philippines, and the stock
market's remarkable performance that keeps the country's resiliency despite the
global crisis.
The
President told members of the Filipino community present during the event that
the Philippines’ Gross Domestic Product (GDP) has continued to grow despite the
global economic crisis. “Alam naman po ninyo na iyan ang pangunahing sukat ng
sigla ng ekonomiya ng isang bansa,” he said.
The
country’s GDP has expanded by 7.1 percent in the third quarter of 2012. The
stock market index also posted record highs 70 times. “Tinalo po natin pati ang
sariling mga projection. Sunod-sunod ang record-high sa ating Philippine Stock
Exchange index,” he said.
“Sa
katunayan, mula June 30, 2010, kung kailan po tayo nag-umpisang manungkulan,
umabot na sa pitumpung beses ng nabasag ang record po ng ating stock exchange.”
The
President expressed hope that the stock market index will reach the 6,500 level
by next month, particularly on his birthday, and the 7,000 level by year-end.
“Palagay ko, hindi pa naman ito nasisira sa atin, mukhang malaki ang pag-asang
mangyari po ‘yan,” he said.
The
President also cited the confidence of the international community in the
Philippines as evidenced by the influx of investors who have already expressed
their interest to invest in the country.
“Naaalala
ko nga po dati, sa panahon ng aking ina: naisama po ako sa ilang biyahe po
niya, nagpunta po ako sa Japan, at halos nagmamakaawa tayong magtayo sila ng negosyo
sa Pilipinas. Pero ngayon po, tayo na ang pinipilahan," he stressed.
“Gusto po
nilang makisakay sa momentum ng pag-angat ng ating ekonomiya. At hindi po sa
iisang sektor ito --mula sa edukasyon, sa imprastruktura, hanggang sa
information technology, iisa ang bukambibig ng mga malalaking kumpanya --'Sali
naman kami diyan,'” he added.
President
Aquino likewise mentioned the reforms in the judiciary, and the signing of the
Bangsamoro Framework Agreement between the Philippine government and the Moro
Islamic Liberation Front.
“Ipinakita natin sa buong mundo ang bisa ng
isang mapayapang diyalogo; higit pa rito, inilalapit natin ang Mindanao, ang
naturingang Land of Promise, sa pangako ng kapayapaan at kasaganahan, na
matagal na niyang inaasam,” he said.
During
his speech, The President called on Filipino overseas workers for a continued
support.
“Nasa
kamay muli ng Pilipino ang manibela --itutuloy ko ba ang paglalakbay sa tuwid
na daan? O pipiliin ko bang mag-U-turn pabalik sa kalsada ng katiwalian at
kahirapan? Mahalaga pong ipaalala --ang pagsisikap ng bawat isa ay magsisilbing
gasolina sa matiwasay na pagtakbo at tuluyang pag-arangkada ng ating bansa,” he
said.
“Kaya nga
po, karaniwang tao man o kasama natin sa paglilingkod-bayan, nasa Pilipinas
man, o dito sa Zurich, saan man pong sulok ng mundo –bawat brasong
nakikisagwan, bawat balikat na nakikipasan, bawat kakamping sumasagupa sa
lumang sistema upang itawid ang ating reporma–kayo po, kayo ang gumagawa ng
pagbabago, at hinihiling ko ang patuloy pa ninyong pakiki-ambag. Pasulong po
ang ating martsa sa tuwid na landas; wala pong atrasan ito; huwag tayong
pumayag na dumulas pang pabalik sa dating kalakaran,” he said.
President
Aquino noted that with his move to keep the country toward a straight path, the
Philippines has indeed changed. “Wala na nga po sigurong dudang nagbago na talaga
ang Pilipinas,” he said.
“Kung
dati po, ang tinatanong sa inyo kung bibisita kayo sa atin, 'Paano ka nakaalis?
Anong mga hakbang ang ginawa ninyo para makatakas?' Ngayon po, ang malamang
itanong sa inyo kung kayo’y makakauwi: 'Kailan kayo uuwi ng permanente?"
Tunay nga pong kay sarap maging Pilipino sa mga panahong ito,” he said.
In
closing, the President thanked the Filipino community of Switzerland for their
warm welcome despite the cold weather. “Kahit ano pang kapal ng ating isuot,
wala pa rin pong hihigit sa init ng pagsalubong ng mga kababayan nating
Pilipino,” he said.
“Kaya
naman po, maraming salamat ulit sa pagyakap ninyo sa amin ngayong hapon; talaga
pong napaka-warm ng welcome po ninyo, talagang napapawi ang ginaw at pagod ng
buo nating delegasyon,” he concluded. PND (co)
Aquino accepts
donation from Filipino community in Switzerland for victims of Typhoon
Pablo
ZURICH,
Switzerland) President Benigno S. Aquino III thanked the Filipino community
from Switzerland and Lichtenstein for extending aid to victims of Typhoon Pablo
in Mindanao.
An
initial check worth 8,650 Swiss francs was turned over to the President during
his meeting with the Filipino community here.
"Marami pong nag-donate ng konting halaga
para sa mga biktima ng bagyong Pablo na tumalasa sa ating bansa noong nakaraang
buwan. Noong nalaman po nilang darating kayo dito sa Switzerland, ninais po
naming magbigay pa ulit ng kaunti pang tulong," Ambassador to Switzerland
Leslie Baja said in his remarks.
The
initial donation, however, was increased to 9,050 Swiss francs.
During
his speech, the President lauded the members of the Filipino community for
their donation. “Lampas po sa halaga na ipinagkaloob niyo sa ating mga kapatid
na nabiktima ng Bagyong Pablo, talaga naman pong napapadama niyo sa kanila na
hindi sila nag-iisa,” President Aquino said.
The
President said that the donation is the best present that they could give to
the Filipinos in the country. “‘Yun po ang talagang napakagandang ipapasalubong
natin sa buong Pilipinas,” he said.
President
Aquino met with the Filipino communities in Switzerland and Lichtenstein before
his return to Manila following his successful participation to the World
Economic Forum Annual Meeting in Davos. PND (co)
President Aquino back from Davos, Switzerland
President Benigno S. Aquino III arrived at the
Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 2 on Sunday, fresh from his
successful attendance to the World Economic Forum that was held in Davos,
Switzerland from January 23 to 26.
The President’s chartered Philippine Air Lines
flight PR001 touched down at the NAIA tarmac at around 2:20 in the afternoon
and subsequently docked at the international flight arrival gate of Terminal 2
some five minutes later.
Welcoming the President back were Vice President
Jejomar Binay and Cabinet members led by Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa.
In his speech, the President expressed gladness
at coming back to the warmer climate of the Philippines, saying the last time
he had ever experienced below zero temperatures 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.
He then mentioned 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. PND (rck)
