Loren urges diplomacy to spur economic growth

Genuine Opposition senatorial candidate Loren Legarda yesterday urged the government to strengthen the use of diplomacy to promote economic development in the country.

Loren said that government departments of foreign affairs, trade and industry, tourism and the National Economic and Development Authority should be more proactive and creative in attracting foreign investments into the Philippines and searching for new markets for export goods and services.

According to Loren, Philippine foreign policy should not be geared solely to establishing good relations between the Philippines and other countries, it should also "sell" the Philippines abroad as a profitable destination for investments, as well as a rich source of export products and excellent and reliable services.

"Foreign relations have now evolved from being a mere field of international diplomacy," said Loren, "it has become an active agency of nations to promote trade, attract investments, acquire technology and achieve international cooperation in domestic development."

Loren declared that the foreign office, assisted by other government agencies, should also help locate markets for Overseas Filipino workers, as the traditional markets for services in the Middle East, is already becoming more restrictive.

Loren said that diplomacy should take advantage of international regional groups such as the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, the Asia-Pacific Economic Forum, the European Union and the trade groupings of the United States, Canada and South America to promote Philippine exports.