5:02 pm | Thursday, September 18th, 2014
PARIS—President Benigno Aquino III urged French businessmen to invest in the Philippines, saying the country was now enjoying a “renaissance.”
“There is a French word that perfectly encapsulates the state of the Philippine economy: renaissance,” he said in a speech at the Philippine Business Opportunities Forum at the Intercontinental Paris LeGrand this morning (3:30 p.m. in Manila).
“My administration took office in 2010 with the clear mandate and intention of reversing the fortunes of our country—which had, for an entire decade, been kept in the darkness of apathy and hopelessness by an administration motivated only by self-service, as opposed to public service.”
“From our very first day in office, we refocused the priorities of government, rekindling the true spirit of governance, and showing the Filipino people what it is like to have a government that works for them,” he added.
As in most of his engagements during his European trip, the President outlined government efforts to curb corruption and produce a better business climate that provides level playing field.
He also highlighted government investments in social services, particularly the conditional cash transfer program, technical-vocational education, and health care.
“Our good governance efforts have breathed new life into our economy,” he said, citing the country’s 7.2-percent economic growth last year and the various credit rating upgrades it had received.
In 2013, our economy grew by 7.2 percent, making us one of the fastest growing economies in Asia. The business community—both domestic and international—has also noted the sea change in our country.
Addressing French businessmen, Aquino said: “There is a natural synergy between our requirements and aspirations, and your strengths and capabilities.
“Yours is a mature, developing country, while ours has just been recently gaining momentum towards development,” he said. “Together, let us maximize the opportunities before us, for the mutual benefit of our peoples.”
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