ROYAL RECEPTION President Duterte is welcomed by Prince Faisal bin Bandar al-Saud, governor of Riyadh, upon his arrival in Saudi Arabia in this Apr. 12, 2017 file photo. —MALACAÑANG PHOTO
RIYADH — President Rodrigo Duterte’s campaign against criminality and corruption could further convince Saudi investors to establish businesses in the Philippines, Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella said.
Abella said the President would also make use of data, which showed that country has become the fastest growing economy in Asia, to entice Saudi investors into setting up companies here.
Abella issued the statement hours before President Duterte was to face Saudi businessmen last Wednesday.
Duterte was scheduled to speak at the Riyadh Investment Forum spearheaded by the Saudi Chamber of Commerce around 2:30 p.m. local time (7:30 p.m. Manila).
Abella said it has been Duterte’s strategy to present the Philippines as an “investment destination of choice” by citing his efforts to stamp out criminality and corruption.
The President has fired nearly 100 government workers and officials, including those whom he had appointed in the Cabinet, after they were linked to corruption scandals.
Interior secretary Ismael Sueno, one of his avid campaigners during the election period, was the latest to be sacked. Sueno has denied he was involved in any corruption alleged in the procurement of trucks from Austria.
“The sincere and genuine intentions to implement reforms, as well as the will to put an end to corruption and crime may also be used as contributory factor in convincing Saudi businessmen to put their investments in the country,” Abella earlier said. SFM
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