Walt Disney showed interest in PHL creative industry, says PNoy

Following probably his last foreign trip during his term, President Benigno Aquino III reported that at least three US firms, including the Walt Disney Company, have expressed interest in bringing business to the Philippines.

In his arrival speech after attending a working visit to the US, Aquino said Walt Disney has expressed interest in boosting the country's creative industry while tech company Western Digital has indicated its plan to expand its operations here.

The infrastructure company AECOM, Aquino added, is also expected to be "a partner in capacity-building."

Aquino met with the companies' executives in Los Angeles after the ASEAN-US summit hosted by US President Barack Obama in Sunnylands.

"[Nakapulong] natin ang mga pinuno ng ilang mga kumpanya sa larangan ng creative services, high technology manufacturing, at imprastruktura. Kinilala po nila ang talento ng Pilipino sa mga larangang ito, na tumataas sa tinatawag na value chain," Aquino said.

"Bilang sagisag ng interes ng mga kumpanya, nakaplano pong bumisita sa Pilipinas ang chairman ng Walt Disney ngayong taon, at nagpahayag din po sila ng kagustuhang tumulong sa lalo pang pagpapalakas ng ating creative industry," he added.

"Nagpahayag din po ng intensyong magpalawak ng operasyon sa bansa ang kumpanyang Western Digital. Kinapanayam din po natin ang AECOM, na inaasahan nating magiging katuwang sa capacity-building ng ating mga kababayan pagdating sa imprastruktura," Aquino said. —Bernadette Parco/NB, GMA News