AMMAN, Jordan–President Rodrigo Duterte assured Jordanian investors an environment conducive for business and return of investments in the Philippines as he encouraged them to come to the country.
“I guarantee a return of profit. There will be no corruption,” Duterte said during the Philippines-Jordan Business Forum at the Intercontinental Hotel here on Thursday.
He said this in the wake of the signing of two Memorandum of Agreements (MOA) and nine Letters of Intent (LOI) involving information technology innovation in healthcare and insurance, mobile services, digital remittance targeting Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW), as well as export of dead sea products, by Philippine and Jordanian firms.
In an interview on the sidelines of the signing ceremony, Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez said the agreements would amount to USD63 million and would generate 530 jobs.
The number of agreements may be few, but Lopez said what is important is to jumpstart business exchanges.
Duterte also assured Jordanian investors that government transactions will be above-board and will have the least government “interference.”
He pointed out that the country has just enacted its Ease of Doing Business law, which mandates government agencies to simplify transactions and avoid red tape.
“I convince you to try the Philippines. We need your investments to finance education, medical care,” he said.
Noting that peace and order is an investor’s concern, Duterte said the Philippines is relatively peaceful, where business can thrive.
“It’s a place where there is law and order,” he added, while highlighting the government’s action to curb corruption.
In Israel, the President ended his four-visit with USD84.9 million of investment commitments from 22 signed agreements, LOIs, and MOAs. (Lilian C. Mellejor/PNA)
