Marcos to discuss investments, jobs with European firms in Brussels

President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. is scheduled to discuss billions of pesos worth of investments expected to generate hundreds of jobs for Filipinos when he meets European business executives in Brussels next week.

According to DFA Assistant Secretary Daniel Espiritu, Marcos is expected to have roundtable meetings with European firms to discuss business and investment opportunities in the Philippines.

"There will be one-on-one meetings with the big corporations who will be expanding their presence in the Philippines – that means more investments and more jobs for us, Filipinos," Espiritu said at a briefing on Marcos' activities in Belgium.

Marcos is scheduled to attend the ASEAN-European Union Summit in Brussels.

"And then there will be a business roundtable with the EU and European corporations during which the President will have the opportunity to expound on our trade and investment policies to attract more, of course, trade and investments from Europe," Espiritu said.

"[This includes] networking among Filipino businessmen and European businessmen. Hopefully, for this networking, the Filipino businessmen will be able to come up with deals with their European counterparts," he added.

Espiritu said Marcos will specifically meet with officials from Unilever, which is looking to expand its operations in Cavite.

"This is important because this corporation is intending to establish a new state-of-the-art manufacturing facility for personal care products in Cavite," Espiritu said.

"So expansion of investments... to the tune of P4.7 billion. Now, it’s expected to generate at least 130, projected employment for the Philippines," he added.

Espiritu said Marcos would also meet with the officials of AUSEA, a shipbuilding and navigation firm, which is looking to develop a shipyard with an investment of P1.5 billion.

The DFA official said this would create 500 to 600 direct and indirect jobs.

A meeting with Acciona, an infrastructure and renewable energy company, is also expected. Espiritu added.

"Then SEMMARIS, it’s a wholesale market in international logistics hub management company or corporation, that intends to develop an agro-logistics at the New Clark City that will build and operate a wholesale market for fresh products with an organized and efficient food supply and value chain," Espiritu said.

The President will also deliver his remarks at the 10th ASEAN-EU Business Summit, which is scheduled on December 13.

"So this will be a very busy trip for the President and we hope that this will redound to a lot of benefits for the Filipino people, not only for ASEAN," Espiritu said. —NB, GMA Integrated News