Marcos leaves for World Economic Forum 2023, hopes to attract more investments

President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. left Manila for Davos, Switzerland on Sunday morning to attend the World Economic Forum (WEF) 2023 and attract more investments.

Marcos boarded a plane from the Villamor Air Base in Pasay City before 9 a.m. together with First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos and the administration's economic team.

“The World Economic Forum is hosting a Country Strategy Dialogue for us where we are given the opportunity to promote the Philippines as leader and driver of growth and a gateway to the Asia-Pacific region — one that is open for business — ever ready to complement regional and global expansion plans of both foreign and Philippine-based enterprises anchored on the competent and well-educated Filipino workers, the managers, and professionals,” Marcos said in his speech prior to departure.

Marcos added he would also look for partners at WEF who can help the administration in building more infrastructure, and ensuring food and energy security.

“I will draw attention to our efforts at building resilient infrastructure that bolsters our effort to reinforce robust and resilient supply chains, ensure food security, including critical interlinkages with the health and nutrition, while furthering climate-friendly, clean and green energy to power the Philippine economy,” he said.

“Moreover, I will share our experience as a model for managing — with our global partners — the disruptive and transformative impact of COVID," Marcos said.

Taking note of WEF's theme for the year which is “Cooperation in a Fragmented World”, Marcos also said: "We will highlight the steps the Philippines is taking to mend the fissures of such fragmentation especially in our country but certainly in partnership with our friends, allies, and partners around the world."

"Related to this is the need to collectively bolster and reinforce our post-pandemic recovery efforts by addressing the challenges we face posed by rising food prices, the impact of conflict in other parts of the world and the continuing existential threat posed by climate change," the President added.

"I have resolved to take this opportunity to exchange views on such pressing issues with other government leaders, policy makers, business executives, and entrepreneurs, civic society advocates and academic experts," he added.

The President said he is going to attend the forum upon the invitation of WEF founder and chair emeritus Professor Klaus Schwab, whom he met on the sidelines of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meetings held in Phnom Penh and Bangkok, respectively, last November.

Among those who saw Marcos off were Vice President Sara Duterte, Armed Forces of the Philippines chief General Andres Centino, Philippine National Police chief Police General Rodolfo Azurin Jr, Cabinet secretaries, former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, and Speaker Martin Romualdez.

The WEF will be held in Davos, Switzerland from January 16 to 20, 2023, the first time it will be held in-person since the COVID-19 pandemic began.

As an international organization for public-private cooperation, the WEF engages the foremost political, business, cultural and other leaders of society to shape global, regional and industry agendas, its website said. —KG, GMA Integrated News