IPINUPURSIGE ni Mayor Erap Estrada na maging ganap na ‘business-friendly city’ ang Maynila.
Naniniwala siya na importanteng tiyakin ang ‘conducive business environment’ upang makahikayat ng maraming lokal at dayuhang mamumuhunan sa lungsod.
Marami na aniyang mga hakbangin para rito na nai-sagawa ang kaniyang administrasyon, tulad ng:
“Updating the schedule of real property taxes; upgrading business taxes together with permits and licenses; addres-sing the traffic congestion; campaign against red tape and corruption; making the city police force reliable and visible; cleaning and greening the city; implementing the solid waste management plan; renovated city waiting sheds with WiFi access; systematization of terminals for public utility vehicles; designation of areas for alternative and supplemental trading and commerce tulad ng Divisoria night market; at creation of more jobs and livelihood.”
Ilan din sa malalaking proyektong pinananabikan na ng mga residente at iba’t ibang sektor sa lungsod ay ang pagtatayo roon ng Central Business District; renobasyon at modernisasyon ng Manila Zoological and Botanical Garden (Manila Zoo) upang maging isang world-class theme park; at ang pagtatayo pa ng tatlong public market.
Kumpiyansa si Erap na sa pamamagitan ng mga repormang kanyang ipinatutupad sa Maynila ay magdadagsaan dito ang mga magnenegosyo sa industriya ng banking and finance; business solutions services; information technology; entertainment; global trading; at iba pa.
Ayon kay Erap, “Manila is the premier city of the Philippines and we have every intention of keeping it that way. We seek to build a Manila that every Filipino can be proud of. We will restore Manila to the old glory that made it a vibrant city in the past.”
Dagdag niya, sa pamamagitan ng maayos na pamamahala ay matitiyak ang pag-unlad ng lungsod laluna aniya dahil “Manila is a global city, and a center for finance, commerce, education, arts, entertainment, professional services, research and development, tourism and transport. It is the historical, cultural, political, economic, and educational center of the Philippines.”