President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has approved the Philippines’ hosting of the Forbes Asia Forum and the Forbes Global CEO Conference in the fourth quarter of 2024, Malacañang said on Friday.
The Presidential Communications Office stated that the event aims to enhance the country’s global visibility, potentially leading to increased foreign investments.
The conferences will unite, tycoons, entrepreneurs, investors, and leaders from various regions to discuss significant global matters and forge new alliances. It will prominently feature an intimate conversation between a senior Forbes editor and the leader of the hosting nation.
“I hope that we can feature that in this conference, and we can show the Philippines as it is now, as opposed to perhaps some of the ideas that people have had almost for a while,” the Chief Executive said in his meeting with senior executives of Forbes Media LCC in Malacañan Palace last Thursday.
The President emphasized that his government has promoted accelerating economic growth and attracting increased investments in several sectors, including digitalization, energy, connectivity, bureaucratic reforms, and infrastructure projects like road construction and school building initiatives.
Additionally, he proudly highlighted the Filipino workforce as the nation’s most valuable resource.
“I have the Filipino workforce that, for me, is still going to be, it has been a blessing. You know we have the youngest workforce in the region. They’re very well-trained English-speaking (workers),” Marcos said.
The international conference this year, scheduled for September in Singapore, has invited Marcos to participate in a fireside chat with visiting executives.
Meanwhile, the Forbes Asia Forum in Singapore will also showcase Forbes Asia’s Best Under a Billion and Forbes Asia’s 100 to Watch.