President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. will be the only leader from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) who will attend the 2023 World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland, next week, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said.

DFA Undersecretary Carlos Sorreta said this ahead of the President’s trip to Switzerland from Jan. 15 to 20, 2023.

In a pre-departure briefing in Malacañang, Sorreta said Marcos is also one of the two leaders from Asia to attend the forum, noting this would be an excellent opportunity to tell world leaders how ASEAN can play a role in the global economy.

“The President will be the only leader from ASEAN to be in Davos, and he will be only one of two leaders from Asia,” he said on Thursday, Jan. 12.

“He would be in a wonderful position to represent not only our country but how our own region, ASEAN and the East Asia Region, can be the engine of growth for the world economy,” he added.

The theme for this year’s WEF is “The Cooperation in a Fragmented World.” According to Sorreta, President Marcos wants to present Asia as an essential factor in “bringing together the fragmented parts of the world.”

“What we present to a fragmented world, because of our great economic potential, is a promise of progress and prosperity,” he said.

“If the causes of the fragmentation can be addressed, we can promise that once peace is achieved, there will be progress and prosperity. So that is what we offer the world as an incentive for the causes of fragmentation– meaning, without me getting into specifics, conflicts to be resolved,” he added.

What to discuss?

According to Palace Press Briefer Daphne Oseña-Paez, the WEF will allow the Philippines to explore new investment, trade, and infrastructure systems amid the economic downturn.

She said the WEF is also an opportunity for President Marcos to push the country’s priorities on food and energy, security, digitalization, climate action, attracting investments and promoting beneficial trade, addressing inequality, and providing accessible social services.

The forum is likewise a chance for the Philippines to partner with other countries, businesses, civil society, and other stakeholders and to collaborate with the WEF on their initiatives.

Aside from the WEF, Marcos will also meet with business leaders and the members of the Filipino community. However, due to the tight schedule, he may not have a bilateral meeting with any world leader.

The World Economic Forum is the premier forum for world and business leaders to get together, interact, and come up with ideas and plans to address challenges and opportunities facing the global economy.