Romualdez enters salesman mode, prods Portuguese businesses to come to PH
House Speaker Martin Romualdez (Speaker’s office)
House Speaker Martin Romualdez tried to woo Portuguese investors into coming to the Philippines during his talk with the envoy from the southern European country on Wednesday, June 14. Paying a courtesy call to the high-ranking Philippine official was Portuguese non-resident Ambassador to the Philippines, Maria Joào Falcào Poppe Lopes Cardoso. During their conversation at Manila Golf and Country Club in Makati City, Cardoso told Romualdez that many Portuguese firms, particularly those involved in technology, were interested in doing business in the Philippines. “Our President is the foremost advocate of utilizing technology and he is sincerely welcoming foreign investors," Romualdez said, referring to President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. "Besides, it makes a lot of sense for your companies to locate here, being among the fastest growing economies in the world," noted the Speaker, who represents Leyte's 1st district in Philippine Congress.
House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez (right) hands over a token of appreciation to Maria Joào Falcào Poppe Lopes Cardoso, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Portuguese Republic to Indonesia, with concurrent jurisdiction over the Philippines. (Speaker’s office)
Cardoso said one of the Portugal's high-tech firms specializing in biometrics and e-gates--and currently serving over 100 airports in the world--has entered into a joint venture with a Filipino company to pilot test their services. The technology is expected to increase the capacity of airports by facilitating the entry and exit of passengers. Ramon Garcia Jr., Portugal’s honorary consul in Manila added that the high-tech Portuguese firm is willing to establish their regional headquarters here in the Philippines and put up a factory to service the technical needs of all these airports. This will create jobs for Filipinos. The ambassador also bared that another Portuguese firm has partnered with a Filipino firm in a bid to offer its secure communication technology to the Philippine defense establishment.