PH presses ‘charm offensive’ thru Forbes forums
Presidential Communications Office Secretary Cheloy Garafil talks to reporters on the sidelines of the Commission on Appointments hearing on her appointment on Wednesday, March 15, 2023. INQUIRER.net / Daniza Fernandez
To attract more foreign investors, the Philippines will host the Forbes Asia Forum and the Forbes Global CEO Conference in 2024, Malacañang announced on Friday.
Presidential Communications Secretary Cheloy Velicaria-Garafil said President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. agreed on the country’s hosting of the global business event during his meeting with the senior executives of Forbes Media LLC on Thursday in Malacañang.
According to Garafil, Marcos said the Philippines has been focusing on improving the Philippine economy and enticing more investments in various areas, such as digitalization, energy, connectivity, bureaucratic reforms, as well as infrastructure development, such as roads and school buildings.
“I hope that we can feature that in this conference and we can show the Philippines as it is now, as opposed to perhaps some of the ideas that people have had almost for a while,” Garafil quoted the President as telling Forbes’ top executives.
READ: IMF: Philippine economy to grow 6% in 2023, 5.5% to 6% in 2024
Fireside chat
The Forbes Global CEO Conference will be held in Singapore and Forbes executives have invited Mr. Marcos to take part in a fireside chat during the conference, Garafil said.
The conference convenes global CEOs, tycoons, entrepreneurs, investors and leaders “to discuss key issues of international concern and build new partnerships, highlighting a fireside chat between a senior Forbes editor and a host country’s leader,” according to Garafil.
READ: Philippines’ growth seen further slowing down for rest of 2023
The Forbes Asia Forum, featuring Forbes Asia’s Best Under a Billion and Forbes Asia’s 100 to Watch, will be held in the fourth quarter of this year, also in Singapore.
Marcos told the Forbes officials that the government has been on “a charm offensive” because the Philippines has to compete with some of the fastest- growing economies in the region.
Among the Forbes Media LLC top officials who met Marcos were Forbes vice chair Christopher Forbes, chief executive officer William Adamopoulos, Forbes Media Asia Pte. Ltd. senior vice president Tina Wee, regional director Michelle Ong and MMPR Media Group Inc. country representative Marie Moñozca.
READ: Fewer Filipinos see improved quality of life in next 12 months under Bongbong Marcos – SWS
