By and large, the country’s business community was happy with the first State of the Nation Address of President Marcos as, for the first time, they heard a clear, extensive if ambitious program of action to solve the country’s most pressing needs and ensure the economy’s continued recovery from the devastation wrought by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Among the conglomerates that commended President Marcos for detailing his administration’s priorities over the next six years is the Ayala group led by president and CEO Fernando Zobel de Ayala.
“We are grateful for President Marcos’ commitment to work with the private sector in fueling an economic rebound by attracting foreign investments, promoting the ease of doing business, and bolstering private-public partnerships in key infrastructure projects. We have always tried to promote the greater good by putting capital to work across sectors where our businesses can scale and grow while making the most meaningful impact to our nation,” Zobel told the Inquirer.
The group, he added, is committed to deploy P285 billion in combined capital expenditures and investments this year, a hefty 25 percent more than in 2021, to contribute to the country’s economic recovery and growth in partnership with the government, no matter who is at the wheel.
“As a strong believer in the power of collaboration, the Ayala group stands ready to continue working with the government and like-minded private sector partners in helping bring the country back on its growth track,” Zobel said.