The Philippines has seen its Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) Summit hosting in 2015 to bring “extraordinary opportunities” not only for the country, but also for foreign investors eyeing to venture in the Philippines.
“For the Philippines there is nothing ordinary about 2015. The year 2015 is an extraordinary opportunity to showcase to the world what the Philippines has to offer,” Trade Secretary Gregory L. Domingo said during the Apec 2015 National Launch in Makati City.
Domingo disclosed that one of the assets of the country is its 100-million population, a pool of skilled and talented work force, which both public and private sectors can take advantage of.
“There is nothing ordinary about the 12th largest population in the world to reach the demographic sweet spot…. Such an extraordinary opportunity can only be properly seen by building an extraordinary partnership between the government and the private sector,” he added.
Hence, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) chief called on the local business community, as well as foreign investors, to invest in the Philippines in time for Apec 2015.
“In 2015 we invite you, our partners, to leverage on our hosting of Apec to bring your foreign counterparts here to see with their own eyes that now is the best time to invest in the Philippines,” Domingo said.
Moreover, as the theme of Apec 2015 is “Building Inclusive Economy, Building a Better World,” the DTI chief noted that the government will ensure that the country’s Apec hosting will spur economic activities in other parts of the Philippines; thus, promoting inclusive growth.
He mentioned that the government decided to bring the Apec meeting to other regions, including Legazpi, Clark, Bataan, Boracay, Bacolod, Iloilo, Tagaytay and Cebu.
Apec kick-off ceremony
President Aquino on Monday evening led the kick-off ceremony for the country’s hosting of the 2015 Apec Forum, unveiling its theme, “Building Inclusive Economies, Building a Better World.”
“Southeast Asia, in particular, has been identified as one of the world’s most promising regions. It is for this reason that the Philippines has chosen to orient this year’s Apec toward making certain that this growth has tangible effects on the lives of all our peoples. This explains our theme: ‘Building Inclusive Economies, Building a Better World,’” Mr. Aquino told his audience at the event held at the Green Sun Hotel in Makati City.
“I am confident that, with our country’s remarkable turnaround in recent years, our story and our experiences can certainly enrich the discussions on this topic,” he said.
The President credited the country’s “significant transformation” to the empowered private sector, conducive investment environment, sound fiscal foundation and the Filipinos’ perseverance.
“More than two decades ago, when we last hosted Apec, the Philippines was considered one of the world’s most promising economies. In the span between then and now, however, there were moments when many of us wondered if our country’s potential had been completely squandered by self-serving leadership. Thankfully, the Filipino persevered,” he said.
After his speech, Mr. Aquino proceeded to the center of the stage and pressed a button, signaling the launch of the 2015 Apec logo.
A boy sporting a yellow shirt, blue shorts and high-cut rubber shoes then showed up, flying a virtual kite and started running around the venue, where the wall served as a 360-degree white screen.
As he ran past a spot, a tourist landmark from one of the 21 Apec member-economies appeared on the screen. The boy then stopped close to where he started, and the spotlight turned to the 2015 Apec logo as it rose on the screen. The boy then turned over a replica of the virtual kite to President Aquino.
With the President at the stage were Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa, Foreign Secretary Albert F. del Rosario, Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima, Interior Secretary Manuel Roxas II, Science and Technology Secretary Mario Montejo, Public Works Secretary Rogelio Singson, Trade Secretary Gregory Domingo, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority Secretary Joel Villanueva, businessman Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala, Tony Tan Caktiong of Jollibee Foods, and businesswoman Doris Magsaysay-Ho.
Also present during the event were members of the diplomatic corps, Albay Gov. Joey Salceda, CEOs of various companies, and other government officials.
PNA with Catherine N. Pillas