GMA turns away billionaire investor

If the government is trying to lure foreign investors, it’s going about it the wrong way.

Taiwanese billionaire Jeffrey Koo left in a huff yesterday after being unceremoniously bumped off by no less than President Arroyo from a scheduled talk before a business conference.

Koo had flown in from Taiwan yesterday just to attend the 27th Philippine Business Conference at the EDSA Shangri-La hotel. Upon his arrival at the hotel, however, he was told that his speech scheduled at noon would have to be deferred.

Mrs. Arroyo, who was supposed to deliver her talk at 5 p.m. yesterday before the conference sponsored by the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI), decided to move up her address to noontime.

And though PCCI president Miguel Varela gave assurance that Koo was not bothered by the sudden schedule change, Koo refused to talk to media.

Koo eventually decided to leave and not deliver his speech as he reportedly had to fly to Japan. He was also supposed to meet with the President but chose to leave ahead.

Mrs. Arroyo herself appeared to have noted the gaffe, and commented that she was supposed to go straight to the United States from Indonesia but was only prevailed upon to come home and attend the 27th PBC.

Koo is the chairman of the Chinese National Association of Industry and Commerce.

Even though the PCCI holds the PBC every year, it still has not learned how to organize and properly schedule its meetings