Marcos tells Japan: When you think of growth, think of PH

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. at the Philippine Business Opportunities Forum held in Palace Hotel in Tokyo, Japan, on Friday, February 10, 2023. INQUIRER.net photo / Gabriel Pabico Lalu

TOKYO, Japan — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has urged Japanese business leaders to think of the Philippines whenever they would talk about growth, in a bid to attract more investments back home.

Marcos, during the Philippine Business Opportunities Forum on Friday here, said that he invites Japan to invest in the Philippines so that both countries can improve socioeconomically.

“As we go along our development journey, I invite all of you to continue and enhance that partnership. When you “think Growth, think Philippines” so that together, we will reap the benefits of robust, sustainable, and inclusive growth for our businesses and for our peoples,” Marcos said.

“Let’s make it happen in the Philippines,” he added.

The President also thanked Japan for its continuous assistance to the country, adding that the programs, including those channelled through the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), have helped in pushing for a prosperous future for the Philippines.

“I would like to thank Japan for being the longstanding economic and strategic partner that you have been, and as — Japan as a friend for the Philippines. You have played a major role in the Philippines’ socioeconomic transformation over the past decades,” Marcos said.

He hopes that these efforts send a message that the Philippines remains a willing partner economically.

“With more roads, airports, railways, along with investments in sustainable initiatives, we are shaping a prosperous future for our people and for our investors,” the President explained.

“With the efforts we have made towards maintaining a sound macroeconomic profile, providing business-enabling policies, and investing in big-ticket infrastructure projects, I hope we are sending the clear message that the Philippines is open for business and that the Philippines means business,” he noted.

Over the three days that Marcos was here in Japan, there have been several discussions with various stakeholders, including those from the tourism industry, semiconductor and electronics, energy, real estate, and other sectors.

Earlier, Marcos presided over a meeting where 35 deals between the Philippine government and businesses, and several Japanese firms were signed.  During that program, the President promised that transaction costs for companies doing business in the Philippines would be reduced.

READ: Marcos Jr vows to lower cost of doing business as PH, Japan sign 35 deals 

The deals revolve around the include manufacturing, infrastructure development, energy, transportation, healthcare, renewable energy, real estate, and business expansion industries.

However, the value of the investment pledges that Marcos and his delegation got since Wednesday have not been announced yet.

Marcos will be in Japan until February 12.  Prior to this meeting, the President met with members of Japan’s Imperial Family and then Prime Minister Kishida Fumio.

He also talked with various businesspeople in Japan, particularly with shipowners, those from the tourism industry, and those who operate semiconductor and electronics firms.

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