Duterte calls for ‘inclusive globalization’

PORT MORESBY – President Duterte has called for an “inclusive globalization” that would benefit small nations and allow micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to cope with changes in technology.

Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez said the empowerment of small nations and businesses was the theme of President Duterte’s interventions during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meetings he attended here.

Duterte joined 20 other APEC leaders and representatives in discussing economic issues during the CEO Summit and the APEC Business Advisory Council meeting.

“The President’s purpose for attending international cooperation and international organization meetings is really to push for the inclusive globalization that he is passionate about,” Lopez told reporters here yesterday.

“(Duterte) mentioned that we have to make sure that the globalization will really benefit everyone. What he said applies especially to MSMEs. We have to empower them, we have to also make sure that they are given the proper training, human resource development, as they prepare also for the digitalization of businesses,” Lopez said.

Lopez said Duterte has urged developed countries to act as “big brother” to small nations so they could have greater access to the market.

“Our President has always pushed for a kind of globalization that is inclusive, that means bigger nations really empowering and helping smaller nations... (where) smaller nations are empowered (to) generate the capability to manufacture, the capability to provide services for the bigger countries, to have a much more open market access,” the trade chief said.  

“It’s like big brother principle wherein the bigger countries would be in a way helping empower the smaller countries,” he added.

Lopez said the President has also emphasized that globalization should have a “win-win-win arrangement” that respects the sovereignty of all nations. 

“Our President has mentioned time and again that we are a friend to everyone and enemy to no one,” the trade chief added. 

With regard to MSMEs, which account for the bulk of the Philippines’ employment, Duterte cited the need to ensure that they have access to the internet. 

“(Duterte) recognized that not all MSMEs are empowered to operate their respective digital operation in terms of like entering into e-commerce or in fact, even getting access sometimes to a stable internet,””Lopez said.

“What we have to address of course is a strong internet infrastructure as well as the access of MSMEs to the internet to be able to maximize, let’s say, getting information, data, e-commerce and financial technology in terms of e-payments eventually,” he added. 

Lopez said Duterte is aware that the economy is heading toward the digitalization of business, a key theme in this year’s APEC Summit. 

“At this point, he said it is very important to provide a lot of training, re-training, education for the MSMEs and I guess the population in general so that we really have a high quality workforce and technology-oriented Filipinos,” Lopez added. 

Economic cooperation

On the sidelines of the summit, the Philippines and Papua New Guinea signed a joint economic and trade cooperation deal to increase their business exchanges. 

Lopez said the agreement would serve as a regular mechanism for the two countries to meet, exchange information and trade data and conduct investment missions. 

The two countries have also signed a five-year agreement for greater cooperation on agriculture. The areas of cooperation under the agreement include tie-up on rice and grain production including the development of hybrid species; production of coconut, cocoa, coffee, rubber and palm oil; horticulture production; aquaculture and inland fish farming; post-harvest development; livestock breeding; and improvement in breeding cattle and goats.