12 March 2025, 10:10 AM | Office of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry
Her Excellency, Deputy Prime Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ms. Tanja Fajon, good morning, ma’am. Our Slovenian delegation, of course Marjana Majeric, Executive Director of the Slovenia’s Chamber of Commerce, good morning. Distinguished guests, esteemed colleagues, Her Excellency Luli Arroyo-Bernas, good morning. His Excellency Felix Ang, good morning. George Barcelon, good morning. And to everyone here, ladies and gentlemen, good morning to all of you.
It is my honor to welcome all of you to the Philippines-Slovenian Business Forum, a significant milestone in strengthening the economic ties between our two nations. Today, we are not just opening a dialogue, we are building bridges of collaboration, investment, and shared prosperity. Slovenia and the Philippines may be geographically distant, but we are united by a common goal to foster economic growth through innovation, trade, and investment.
Your presence here today, representing Slovenia’s largest business delegation to Manila, signals a strong commitment to deepening our economic ties. This forum is a testament to our mutual recognition that the future of trade is not just about transactions but about partnerships, one that creates lasting economic opportunities between both our people. The Philippines stands as one of the fastest-growing economies in Asia.
This one I can attest. I’ve been around, and to be honest, the Philippines is now the investment country of choice. So we’re very proud of this. And I’m really very proud that our president has really represented our country in a very diplomatic way, and a way that really prioritizes foreign trade and investments.
Why? Because it’s good income for, it brings in income for our country, and it also provides bulk jobs for Filipinos. So they don’t have to leave our country, and they have a lot of jobs here offered to them. So that’s something that we’re really looking forward, and we’re really working on, on an aggressive basis.
The Philippines stands as one of the fastest-growing economies in Asia. Our GDP remains robust and supported by a thriving industrial base, a young, skilled workforce, and a government committed to economic reform. We have made strategic policy shifts to foster a more business-friendly environment, including, of course, the CREATE MORE.
The CREATE MORE is really a game-changer in foreign trade and investments. We’ve signed it last October, and the president signed it last October, and the IRR was signed last month. So this is something that we’re really, actually we’re going around now, and we’re really doing a lot of roadshows, and so far we’ve got a lot of positive feedback.
I’ve been to Japan, and I’ve also been to the U.S., and for four days, I’ve met with 16 companies, and all positive also. So we’ve been really putting out now a lot of positive information, and a lot of actually truthful full information regarding all our meetings in the U.S. and in Japan. Continuous investments in infrastructure, digitalization, and sustainability are all aligned with our commitment to creating a dynamic ecosystem.
As a result, we are seeing increasing interest from global investors, and today’s engagement with the Slovenia’s leading businesses reflects this momentum. Manufacturing and industrial development is of interest, technology and digital economy, education and skills development, sustainable business, and green economy. By investing in the Philippines, you are not just accessing a 110 million strong domestic market, but a very young, we are very young, 25 years old is the average age. So that’s something that you might be interested in, and we also speak good English.
This is also a gateway to broader ASEAN region with over 680 million consumers. Our participation in the three trade agreements, including the RCEP, positions us as a strategic hub for businesses looking to expand in Asia.
Today’s forum is just the beginning as we engage in these discussions, sign agreements, and initiate business matching activities. I want you all to know that this is a huge milestone for realizing our shared vision of economic prosperity under the leadership of our President Ferdinand Bonbon Marcos and under the Bagong Pilipinas. The success stories we create today will define the future of the Philippines-Slovenia relations.
The Department of Trade and Industry will have an aggressive approach in assisting all businesses that want to come into the Philippines. So please, you can message me directly through WhatsApp or Viber, and definitely I’ll answer you, and we’ll make sure that we get things done. Let us work together in advancing trade, technology, and economic progress.
Let us turn aspirations into action and opportunities into shared success. With this, I extend my deepest gratitude to Her Excellency, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign and European Affairs, Ms. Tanja Fayon, and the Slovenian Business Delegation, the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and all our partners who have made this gathering possible.
Under the visionary leadership of our President, let us build a partnership that transcends borders, drives economic growth, and empowers both our nations.
Thank you and Mabuhay ang Bagong Pilipinas! ♦
Date of Release: 12 March 2025