Permanent Representative to the World Trade Organization (WTO), Ambassador Manuel Antonio Teehankee (left), welcomes Speaker Martin Romualdez upon his arrival at Zurich Airport Monday morning (Switzerland time). 

It's House Speaker Martin Romualdez's turn to lead the Philippine delegation to the World Economic Forum (WEF) this year in Davos, Switzerland. 

President Marcos made waves at the annual meeting in January 2023, with Romualdez as his top lieutenant in the delegation. 

But now, Romualdez will be the highest-ranked Filipino official in high-level event, which will run from Jan. 15 to 19. 

“We are committed to leveraging this international platform to escalate the effort of the administration of President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. to promote the Philippines as an attractive and secure investment destination, ultimately benefitting the Filipino people with more jobs and business opportunities,” Romualdez said in a statement Monday, Jan. 15. 

In a letter dated 06 October 2023, WEF President Borge Brende invited Romualdez to the annual meeting  for 2024. 

The Davos meeting brings together key leaders from government, business--including the world’s top sovereign fund managers--and civil society to discuss and shape global, regional, and industry agendas. 

Romualdez, leader of the 300-plus strong House of Representatives, says he plans to reinforce the Philippines' standing as a premier investment destination, and to spotlight the newly-established Maharlika Investment Fund (MIF). 

“The leaders gathering in Davos would greatly value your insights, especially with the escalating geopolitical and geo-economic challenges present in the region and globally. Your active participation will also help strengthen the Filipino narrative and the country’s global standing in the eyes of the international community, providing rich opportunities for the country,” Brende said. 

Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the World Trade Organization Manuel A.J. Teehankee endorsed the invitation, as he cited the Speaker’s key role in the successful passage of the MIF and its announcement and launching in Davos led by President Marcos in last year. 

READ THIS TOO: 

https://mb.com.ph/2023/1/21/ph-was-star-of-davos-forum-says-romualdez 

Teehankee said this year's annual meeting--also dubbed AM2024--presents a unique opportunity to build on the positive momentum of President Marcos’ participation last year and maintain the interest of the Davos community in the opportunities in the Philippines as one of the fastest-growing economies in the world. 

Romualdez is also expected to highlight crucial legislative reforms and ongoing initiatives under the Marcos administration to enhance the business climate and position the Philippines as an attractive environment for foreign investments. 

Apart from attending the various sessions of the AM2024, Romualdez is also expected to have bilateral meetings with some of the participating world and business leaders. 

“We are confident that our engagement with some of the world’s top business leaders and political leaders would generate significant interest and recognition of our Maharlika Investment Fund as a compelling platform for direct foreign investments. This, in turn, can contribute significantly to the country’s economic growth and job creation for our people,” Romualdez said. 

“We also hope to learn from the best practices of the world’s leading sovereign wealth fund and utilize such valuable inputs to ensure the growth and success of our own Maharlika Investment Fund,” he added. 

He added that the WEF also presents a conducive environment to foster strategic partnerships with global leaders and facilitate collaborations that can drive economic development and enhance the global competitiveness of the Philippines.