Marcos invited to WEF in Davos next year

PHNOM PENH – President Marcos has been invited to attend the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland on Jan. 16 to 20 next year to present positive developments in the Philippines.

WEF founder and executive chairman Klaus Schwab extended the invitation to Marcos during a breakfast meeting yesterday on the sidelines of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit here.

Schwab told Marcos that the latter’s attendance at the WEF will serve as a “good opportunity” to let the global business community know about the dynamism and “positive developments” happening in the Philippines in a bid to attract more investors.

Founded in 1971 in Geneva, Switzerland, the WEF is a non-profit foundation that engages the foremost political, business, cultural and other leaders of society to shape global, regional and industry agenda.

The Office of the Press Secretary (OPS) said there is no decision yet whether or not Marcos will attend the WEF next year.

In a statement, the OPS said Schwab commended the Philippine leader for the country’s strong economic performance.

The Philippines’ gross domestic product (GDP) grew by 7.6 percent in the third quarter of the year, the highest among ASEAN nations.

Marcos earlier said the GDP growth rate was “a little higher” than the government estimates of 6.5 to 7.5 percent for the last quarter.

After the ASEAN summit in Cambodia, the President will fly to Bangkok, Thailand for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Economic Leaders’ Meeting on Nov. 16 to 19.

He is also scheduled to attend the ASEAN-European Union Commemorative Summit in Brussels, Belgium next month.

Marcos has also accepted the invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping to visit China on Jan. 3 to 5 or 6 next year.

The President made his inaugural state visits to Indonesia and Singapore last September and attended the 77th United Nations General Assembly in New York, also in September.