Villamor Air Base, Pasay City
January 15, 2023

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. affirmed his resolve to exchange views on pressing global issues centering on the theme, ‘Cooperation in a Fragmented World,’ with fellow government leaders, policy makers, business executives and entrepreneurs, civic society advocates and academic experts as he flew to Davos, Switzerland for his inaugural participation to the World Economic Forum (WEF) from January 16-20, 2023.

The President’s attendance is upon the personal invitation of Professor Klaus Schwab, Founder and Chair Emeritus of the WEF, whom he met on the sidelines of his two meetings at the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in Phnom Penh, Cambodia and Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) in Bangkok, Thailand last year.

“The Philippines is also being given a unique opportunity to highlight the significant economic gains we have achieved in the last part of the year as attested to by upward growth projections of the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank. The World Economic Forum is hosting a Country Strategy Dialogue for us where we are given the opportunity to promote the Philippines as leader and driver of growth and a gateway to the Asia-Pacific region – one that is open for business – ever ready to complement regional and global expansion plans of both foreign and Philippine-based enterprises anchored on the competent and well-educated Filipino workers, the managers, and professionals,” the Chief Executive said in his departure statement.

Furthermore, President Marcos Jr. intends to share the Philippine experience as a model for managing the disruptive and transformative impact of COVID-19, particularly in saving lives and livelihoods, as well as the next steps that his Administration is undertaking to ensure that the country is ready to meet the lingering effects of the pandemic and address the occurrence of a possible next one.

“I will draw attention to our efforts at building resilient infrastructure that bolsters our efforts to reinforce robust and resilient supply chains, ensures food security including critical interlinkages with health and nutrition, while furthering climate-friendly, clean and green energy to power the Philippine economy,” he emphasized.

Joining President Marcos Jr. in Switzerland are First Lady Atty. Louise Araneta Marcos, Presidential son and Ilocos Norte First District Representative Ferdinand Alexander Marcos, former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez, Cabinet members and business leaders.

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