Surging PH 'very much open' to Malaysian investors in Maharlika fund, says Speaker
House Speaker Martin Romualdez (Speaker’s office)
House Speaker Martin Romualdez said the Philippines would welcome Malaysian investors in the Maharlika Investment Fund (MIF), which President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. recently signed into law. In a press briefing Saturday, July 23, Romualdez confirmed that he would be part of President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr.'s delegation to Malaysia during the latter's visit there slated from July 25 to 27. Asked if the newly-enacted MIF would be among the topics to be discussed during the three-day visit along with the prospects of having Malaysian businessmen invest in the fund, Romualdez answered: "Very much so, we'll be very much open to that." The Leyte 1st district congressman and leader of the House of Representatives went on to explain why it makes sense for foreign investors to choose the Philippines and its MIF. "Isipin mo na lang to, kung mayroon kang kapital, yung isang bansang may kapital, saan mo idadala? Eh di syempre dalhin mo sa isang bansa kung saan mataas yung growth, di ba?' (Just think about it, if you have the capital as a country, where would you bring it? Of course, you bring it a country where there is high growth)," he said. Romualdez went on to tout the country’s economic upswing under the Marcos administration. "So the Philippines becomes a very, very attractive ano ,economy to invest into. That's why we're very, very optimistic and excited. Kaya ang daming nagtatanong (That's why a lot of people are asking about the MIF)," he said. Romualdez had noted that the Asian Development Bank (ADB) had projected that the country's gross domestic product (GDP) will likely grow by 6.0 percent this year, the highest among major Southeast Asian countries. Embodied in Republic Act (RA) No.11954, the MIF is the Philippines' first sovereign wealth fund. President Marcos will leave for Malaysia a day after delivering his second State of the Nation Address (SONA). It was only last March when Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim had a two-day official visit to the Philippines. "Gustong-gusto talaga ni Prime Minister Anwar, magkakaroon ng mga ano, improvement and increase of trade relations beyond of course the other agenda there (Prime Minister Anwar really wants to see an improvement and increase of trade relations beyond of course the other agenda there)," Romualdez said.