FILE PHOTO: President of the Philippines Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. attends a news conference after the European Union (EU) and the Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN) commemorative summit in Brussels, Belgium December 14, 2022. REUTERS/Johanna Geron
MANILA, Philippines — With President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. set to travel to three different countries within the first two weeks of May, the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (Peza) on Saturday insisted that the chief executive’s international travels are necessary to build investor confidence.
Marcos is set to visit the United States (US), the United Kingdom and Indonesia, from April 30 to May 11.
READ: Marcos headed to Indonesia for Asean summit after US and UK trips
“The impact of the presence of the President in the United States really strengthened iyong confidence po ng ating mga investors na mag-invest dito sa Pilipinas,” Peza Deputy Director General Aleem Siddiqui Guiapal said in a press briefing.
According to Guiapal, Marcos’ visit creates a positive image for the country. He added that with Marcos’ visit to the United States, the Philippines will send a message to American investors of cohesion and a holistic approach.
Guiapal also said that the investors look at the country’s ease of doing business, which the administration is trying to address through policies.
The director cited data from the last quarter of 2022, in which Peza garnered $10.5 million (around P571 million) worth of foreign direct investments from the US.