International CEOs and business leaders gather in Manila for the WEF Country Roundtable on the Philippines. (Photo courtesy of DOF)
Geneva, Switzerland – From the Swiss Alps of Davos-Klosters to the warm and sunny Manila, more than 60 international and Philippine Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) and business leaders gathered at the Malacañan Palace for the World Economic Forum (WEF) Country Roundtable on the Philippines on 18 to 19 March 2024 to chart the future direction of our country’s sustainable economic growth and development.
WEF Country Roundtable on the Philippines held at the Malacañan Palace.
(Photo courtesy of DOF)
Under the theme Forging a Sustainable Future for the Philippines, the third edition of the Philippine-hosted roundtable hopes to build on the success of the WEF Annual Meetings 2023 and 2024 in strengthening international collaboration and public-private partnerships with a particular focus on renewable energy, digital economy, financial services, and infrastructure cooperation. This Philippine Roundtable, co-hosted by WEF President Mr. Børge Brende, maximized the opportunity to showcase the country as one of the top destinations for investment resulting to job creation and opportunities for the Filipino people in line with the Philippine Development Plan 2023-2028. President Brende emphasized that the continued economic reforms of the country, and the improvements in education and infrastructure will pave the way for the Philippines towards becoming a 2-trillion-dollar economy.
Together with his economic team led by DOF Secretary Ralph G. Rector, Special Assistant to the President for Investment and Economic Affairs Secretary Frederick D. Go, Secretary Raphael P.M. Lotilla, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Eli M. Remolona, Jr., House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez and Maharlika Investment Fund CEO Mr. Raphael Jose Consing, Jr., a special dinner and networking event was organized on the first day of the Roundtable at the National Museum to provide opportunity for our local leaders and CEOs to forge partnerships with their international counterparts.
A networking dinner and reception was co-hosted by DOF Secretary Ralph G. Recto and Special Assistant to the President for Investment and Economic Affairs Secretary Frederick D. Go, at the National Museum of the Philippines. (Photo courtesy of DOF and Office of the President)
A strong Philippine presence at the WEF has been solidified by the participation of President Ferdinand R. Marcos in 2023 and House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez in 2024, in which the latter extended his personal invitation to the world’s top leaders and businessmen to participate in the Manila Roundtable.
President Ferdinand Marcos, together with DOF Secretary Ralph G. Recto, Special Assistant to the President for Investment and Economic Affairs Secretary Frederick D. Go, and Ambassador and Permanent Representative to WTO Manuel Teehankee, met with WEF President Mr. Børge Brende, Mr. Joo-ok Lee and Ms. Miranda Andruccioli at the Malacañan Palace. (Photo courtesy of DOF and Office of the President)
Last January, Speaker Romualdez led the Philippine delegation to the Davos WEF together with Department of Energy Secretary Raphael P.M. Lotilla, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Eli M. Remolona, Jr., and Maharlika Investment Fund CEO Mr. Raphael Jose Consing, Jr.
From left to right: Ambassador and Permanent Representative to WTO Manuel A.J. Teehankee, Deputy Governor for Regional Operations and Advocacy Sector Ms. Bernadette R. Puyat, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Eli M. Remolona, Jr., House Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez, Department of Energy Secretary Raphael P.M. Lotilla, WEF Global Shaper Mr. Dan Gigantone, and DOE Undersecretary and concurrent Chief-of-Staff Mr. Ronald Conquilla.
The Philippine delegation to the WEF Annual Meeting together with international CEOs and business leaders at the Philippine-hosted Breakfast Interaction/Roundtable. House Speaker Romualdez and Maharlika CEO Mr. Consing during their remarks at the 2nd Roundtable held in January in Davos.
At the 2nd Roundtable held in January 2024 in Davos, Switzerland, House Speaker Romualdez and Maharlika Fund CEO Mr. Consing formally introduced the newly established Maharlika Investment Fund that will drive the country’s economic growth focusing on attracting investors in the areas of energy, agroforestry industrial urbanism, infrastructure development, mineral processing and aviation.
The third Roundtable is part of the three-phase WEF strategy of the Philippines of building stronger partnerships with private sectors towards achieving an inclusive economic growth in support of the 10-point economic agenda of President Marcos.
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