Duterte to boost foreign interest on ‘Build, Build, Build’ Program

Photo: Daily Duterte/Facebook.com

President Rodrigo Duterte arrived in Cambodia on Wednesday to attend a World Economic Forum event as Chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), and also to boost the Philippines’ effort to catch up with its Southeast Asian counterparts.

According to the President, he would be “articulating the interests of 630 million ASEAN citizens. The Forum will be attended by more than 700 businesses and government leaders from all over the world.

He is also scheduled to host a briefing to introduce his administration’s “Build, Build, Build Program” to foreign investors which aims to usher the “golden age of infrastructure” of the country.

Key government officials say that the Philippines would require  around $160 billion worth of funds to kickstart the program otherwise known as “Dutertenomics”.

According to Foreign Undersecretary for International Economic Relations, Manuel Teehankee, this is the first forum where the Philippines will unveil its infrastructure campaign hoping that it will further increase foreign investments in the country. He also said that the President is scheduled to meet with two groups of business institutions.

First, is a group of 25 businessmen with whom youth, technology, and economic development will be discussed. The second group is composed of regional investors with whom the ASEAN leaders will consult with regarding good governance and economic growth.

Regional executives from General Electric, Siemens, Cisco, and the Standard Chartered Bank are a few of the many business brands that will be present at  the event.

The forum will be opened by President Duterte, Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuân Phúc, Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith of Laos, and Prime Minister Hun Sen of Cambodia.