New World Hotel, Makati City
9 September 2014

President Benigno S. Aquino III witnessed the awarding of large, and small and medium businesses during the ASEAN Business Awards Philippines at New World Hotel in Makati City.

In his speech, President Aquino said that the Philippines is once again open for business and the administration’s reform efforts are attracting more investments as proved by the 20 positive credit rating actions the Philippines has received in four years.

The President cited that the government fosters a business climate that made investing in the country more conducive by gathering the business registration process of several different agencies into a single shop and cutting the four or five days processing to 30 minutes. He also highlighted the achievements of the Department of Public Works and Highways that optimized their bidding process and reduced bidding documents, saving the government billions of pesos in building, upgrading and improving infrastructures in the country.

The first ASEAN Business Awards Philippines was established to recognize the contributions of local enterprises to the growth and prosperity of the Philippine economy. It is the local counterpart of the regional ASEAN Business Awards that was launched in 2007 to recognize enterprises that contributed in the ASEAN economy.

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