Davos, Switzerland—Kumpiyansa si Pangulong Marcos Jr. na malaking puntos ang presensya ng mga overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) sa Middle East para maakit ang Arab government na mamuhunan sa Pilipinas.
Sa question and answer session sa open forum sa World Economic Forum (WEF), natanong si Pangulong Marcos ukol sa ‘engagement’ ng Pilipinas sa Middle Easr at ang kanyang sagot ay ang OFWs.
Sinabi pa ng Pangulo na kailangan ng Southeast Asia na makabangon at makabalik muli sa dating sitwasyon bago ang COVID-19 pandemic kung saan isang fast-growing economiy ang rehiyon.
“The workforce is still workforce, still exists. It is up to us as leaders, I think, to be very careful how we direct now the development of the economy because it’s not business as usual. The pandemic changed everything,” pahayag ng Pangulo.
“So specific to the Middle Eastern countries, we have very strong relations actually with the Middle Eastern countries,” dagdag ng Pangulo.
Iginiit pa ng Pangulo na mayroong magandang pondasyon ang Pilipinas sa Gulf countries dahil sa malaking bulto ng mga OFW na nagtatrabaho sa Middle East.
“Because in the talks that we’ve had with some of the leaders from the Middle East, the discussion always begins with the overseas Filipino workers,” dagdag ng Pangulo.
Malaking papel din aniya ang kalakalan lalo na ang Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).
Sinabi pa ng Pangulo na ididiga din niya sa Arab nations ang planong pagtatag sa sovereign wealth fund
“Some of the examples that we’re looking at are the ones in the Middle East because they have been the ones that have been most successful,” pahayag ni Pangulong Marcos.
“The connections are there — we just not have — put it in that area. But I’m sure that any opportunities that we will be given… have to take full advantage of,” dagdag ng Pangulo.