Tycoons join Marcos in Davos

DAVOS, Switzerland: Seven of the country's biggest businessmen joined President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. in his trip here as they focus on scoring investment and business opportunities to aid the country's economic recovery, Malacañang said.

Marcos is in Switzerland to join global leaders and top chief executive officers at the 2023 Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF).

Joining him are Sabin Aboitiz (Aboitiz), Kevin Andrew Tan (Alliance Global), Jaime Zobel de Ayala (Ayala Group), Lance Gokongwei (JG Summit Holdings), Ramon Ang (San Miguel Corp.), Teresita Sy-Coson (SM Investments), and Enrique Razon (International Container Terminal).

“We are open for business — ever ready to complement regional and global expansion plans of both foreign and Philippine-based enterprises anchored on the competent and well-educated Filipino workers, the managers and professionals,” the President said.

Marcos said he will look for partners who will back his administration's infrastructural plans, and ensure food and energy security, as well as its work in handling the Covid-19 pandemic.

Marcos is the only leader from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and one of the only two leaders from Asia who will attend the WEF.

This year's WEF, with the theme “Cooperation in a Fragmented World,” is the forum's first in-person gathering since 2020.