AMMAN, Jordan –– President Rodrigo Roa Duterte on Thursday, September 6, met with several Jordanian businesspeople here, giving his “solemn commitment” of ease of doing business in the Philippines.
“I tell you now, I give you my solemn commitment that if you go there, it will be business with ease,” President Duterte said during the Business Forum at the Intercontinental Hotel in Amman.
The Chief Executive’s serious commitment assures the Jordanian investors of return on investment, no graft and corruption, and a nation that has peace and order.
“I will guarantee you the return [on investment]. There will be no corruption. And if you ask anything, even a toothpick, I will guarantee you, you can have my audience any time of the day…or night,” he said.
The President added that the country is peaceful amid Martial Law in Mindanao as the nation has so many areas for investments.
“I cannot say it’s trouble-free. The Philippines…relatively, it’s peaceful. Business can thrive there,” he added.
President Duterte was explicit to the Jordanian businesspeople on the real situation of the Philippines that would make the foreign investors wary of investing their money in. However, he emphasized the efforts of the government to make the nation worthy of investments.
“So we need help. Help in terms of business where you can make your profit. If you go there and try to discover things…and if there’s a thing that is capable of making you succeed in business in my country, I will invite you,” Duterte said.
Furthermore, President Duterte said he would create a department to help process documents of the investors to experience the ease of doing business in the Philippines.
“As a matter of fact, you do not have to travel from one place to another to get a permit or clearance or whatever. I will create a department just to receive your application. We will do the processing,” the President noted.
He also noted the Filipinos’ world-class dexterities: “We have many talents. We even have an excess of talents.”
Towards the end of his speech, President Duterte said to the foreign investors that he would be their good friend.
“I’ll leave you my guarantee that we will be friends and we will nurse and nurture it fully so that someday my people can say that you paved the way for the good relationship,” the President said with enthusiasm.
Nine Philippines-Jordan Business Agreements Signed
Meanwhile, President Duterte witnessed the signing of nine business agreements and intents between the Philippines and Jordan.
The agreements have an estimated investment value of US $60.675 million and expected to generate some 434 jobs for the Filipinos.
The agreements signed include seven Letters of Intent (LOI) and two Memorandums of Understanding (MOU).
Below is the list of agreements inked during the event:
1. LOI of Nafith International
• To explore the opportunities in the Philippines on logistics planning and operations, and locate its regional office there. The project’s estimated cost is US $50 million and will generate employment of 250 by 2020.
2. LOI of Universal Labs Ltd.
• To explore the opportunities in the Philippines and set up a big manufacturing facility for the production of Dead Sea products for export to cover the Asian market. A venture with an estimated cost of US $5 million.
3. LOI of Arabia Cell
• To explore opportunities in the Philippines on mobile-related services and solutions, information technology, software, and mobile development with a projected estimate of US $2.4 million.
4. LOI of Dinarak
• Exploring opportunities for digital cross-border remittances from Jordan to the Philippines. The projected cost for the project is US $2 million.
5. LOI of Reprogene
• To explore opportunities for genomic testing services for hospitals and clinics. The project is estimated at US $1 million.
6. LOI of Mobile Z Nation
• To explore opportunities in the ICT sector related to healthcare and insurance. The venture has an estimated cost of US $200,000.
7. LOI of Galaxy Organization
• To explore opportunities in the Philippines on technology and robotics, ICT development, cybercrime, artificial intelligence, green energy, and e-Education.
8. MOU between Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) and Jordan Chamber of Commerce (JCC)
• Promoting, strengthening, and expanding of trade, economic, scientific, technological cooperation, and other business relations between concerned organizations and firms of PCCI and JCC.
9. MOU between the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) and Jordan Chamber of Industry (JCI)
• Establishing linkages between businesses and industrial sectors in the Philippines and Jordan to facilitate cooperation and joint ventures among members and to increase bilateral trade volume between the two countries.
Accompanying the President during the forum were Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea, Department of Trade and Industry Secretary Ramon Lopez, Department of Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano, Department of Labor and Employment Secretary Silvestre Bello III, Office of the Special Assistant to the President Secretary Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque, and Department of Interior and Local Government Officer-in-Charge Eduardo Año. ### PND
