Duterte welcomes executives, state leaders in ASEAN event
President Rodrigo Duterte welcomed business executives, entrepreneurs and head of state during the launch of the ASEAN Mentorship for Entrepreneurs Network (AMEN) at the opening of the ASEAN Business and Investment Summit (ABIS) 2017 on November 12, Sunday.
Photo from Rappler
With noted leaders such as Her Excellency Aung San Suu Kyi of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar, Former President Fidel V. Ramos, and Former Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Secretary Gina Lopez as part of the event, Duterte opened the event with his own speech.
“There’s only one aim actually: what we do today for our world and our generation,” he said.
Tapping on the aspects of the digital age in economy, Duterte said that other nations were prepared for the fall of the digital age while most third world countries were not in the position to catch up.
“Today, we realize that almost 85% of the world are run by Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), and taking together it, feverishly, the world economy,” he added.
His speech also included the role of globalization in today’s economy. “Globalization came, and suddenly, it placed everybody in a very awkward position,” Duterte expressed.
According to Duterte, the first country to be hit by the consequences of the growing globalization was America, where its economy was the first to suffer. “They went to--all of China. Deng Xiaoping opened the doors for cheap labor and everything else including minimal taxations.”
“Today, China is the number one powerhouse, and we have to be friends,” he said.
Duterte mentioned that while he was at the bilateral meeting with China’s President Xi Jin Ping, and he was the last head of government that Xi met on Saturday at the APEC Summit in Vietnam. He said that his talk with Xi was one of the “most productive” meetings he had on the side, as were talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
One of the topics of their discussion was the South China Sea (West Philippine Sea) dispute, and stressed that war is not the best option right now.
“The South China Sea is better left untouched, and nobody can afford to go to war,” Duterte said.
Apparently, Xi told Duterte that he is not interested in starting a war with the country over the dispute.
“We agreed, and he agrees: ‘If you are President Duterte and you want to preserve the lives of the Filipinos, then as president of China, I want to save lives. I do not want to waste the lives of my countrymen for a useless war that cannot be won by anybody,” he explained.
Towards the end of his speech, Duterte discussed his plans to change the 2018 budget, and to invest in MSMEs since he found out that the basic unit of the economy was moved by the ministry.
“Next year, I would like to make some late changes in the GAA --- the annual budget. I would like to pour more money on this medium, small, and micro enterprise. So you guys, the small businessmen, maybe a few billions here and there would suffice? Well, talagang bubuhos ako ng capital,” Duterte said.
The theme for this year’s ABIS is “World Leaders’ Roadmap Towards Prosperity For All”. It is a three-day conference that highlights business and investment opportunities, entrepreneurial connectivity and empowerment, and discussions on the issues that relate to trade and business with forums and panels composed of state leaders and public personalities.
The launch was held at the Grand Ballroom of Solaire Resort and Casino in Parañaque City, and will continue until November 14, Tuesday.
