House Speaker Martin Romualdez (Facebook)

House Speaker Martin Romualdez is more bullish than ever with the Philippines' foreign investments prospects following the "overwhelmingly positive" reception of the Philippine delegation at the World Economic Forum (WEF) Annual Meeting 2025. 

"The discussions we held in Davos [Switzerland] reaffirm the immense potential of the Philippines as a key destination for global investments," Romualdez, leader of the 300-plus strong House of Representatives, said in a statement Sunday, Jan. 26.

Romualdez, who led the Philippine delegation to the WEF, said the potential influx of investments into the country that would create more jobs and spur economic growth.

"We are grateful to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. for sending a delegation that has showcased the many reasons why global investors should choose the Philippines. The reception has been overwhelmingly positive, and I am confident that this will translate to more investments that will fuel our economic growth," he said.

Earlier, as one of the featured panelists in a discussion, the Speaker recalled a chance meeting with a top industrialist from India in WEF 2024 that developed into a fruitful partnership with a local business. 

“I invited him to the Philippines, and he liked what he saw. And in fact, had it not been for the WEF, he would never have realized that the Philippines was open and welcoming to business from India,” said Romualdez, who also led the local delegation last year.

The Speaker thanked members of the Philippine delegation, which included Department of Finance (DOF) Secretary Ralph Recto, Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Trade Secretary Ma. Cristina Roque, and influential business leaders from various sectors for their significant contributions to promoting the country’s economic opportunities.

“I thank my fellow delegates for their tireless efforts and invaluable contributions in generating global interest in the Philippines,” he said. 

“From highlighting our young and dynamic workforce to presenting our pro-business policies such as the CREATE MORE Law and the Maharlika Investment Fund, we have successfully demonstrated that the Philippines is a viable and vibrant investment destination,” said the Leyte 1st district congressman.

In Davos, Romualdez participated in high-level discussions and engaged with prominent global business leaders and officials. 

One of the highlights was his participation as a panelist in the stakeholder dialogue titled “Navigating Asia’s Hotspots,” where he emphasized the country’s balanced geopolitical approach and commitment to economic stability.

“We presented a clear narrative of the Philippines as a reliable partner in the Indo-Pacific region, not only geopolitically but also economically. Our focus is on fostering peace, stability, and cooperation, which are vital for sustained growth,” the Speaker remarked.

Romualdez and the Philippine delegation also hosted the Philippine Breakfast Interaction at WEF which convened close to 50 international public and private sector leaders for a briefing on the Philippine economy and its bright potential as the next big investment destination.

Among the notable guest during the event were Marcus Wallenberg Chairman of Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken; Philippe Amon, Chairman and CEO of SICPA SA; Catarina Amon, CEO and Founder of Classeek; Anthony Tan, CEO and Co-Founder of Grab; John Riady, Group CEO of Lippo Indonesia; Tony Fernandes, CEO of AirAsia; and Calvin Choi, CEO of AMTD.

Also present were Jay Collins, Vice Chairman of Citi; Helena Lersch, Vice President of Public Policy of Tiktok; Amit Kalyani, Vice-Chairman and Joint Managing Director of Kalyani Strategic Systems Limited; and Albert Chang, Managing Partner of Southeast Asia, McKinsey & Co., among others.

During the discussions, the PH delegation showcased the Philippines’ robust domestic economy driven by e-commerce, making the country the fastest-growing digital economy in the Association Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in 2024.

“Our interactions with these business leaders further underscored the attractiveness of the Philippines for trade and investment. They recognized the strategic advantages of our country, including its location, young workforce, and robust economy,” Romualdez said.