PNoy’s Malaysia Visit Opens Business Floodgate

President Benigno Aquino’s visit to Malaysia will open a good opportunity for trade and commerce here in the Philippines particularly
in Mindanao, according to a Philippine Ambassador.

Philippine Ambassador to Malaysia, Ed Malaya, said there were 13 managers of Malaysian companies who visited Cotabato City after
the last annex of the Bangsamoro Framework Agreement was signed last January 2014.

The said Malaysian business tour served as a study and outlook on the possible investment in Mindanao, which will open a big chance for the Filipino workers.

According to Malaya, President Aquino’s state visit to Malaysia was highlighted with an agenda that would enhance the peace process and develop the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).

It was during the year 2001 when the Malaysian government became the facilitator of the peace talks between the Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

“What is important, now that there is a successful conclusion of the peace process, is to transform the support and the goodwill from
facilitation of the peace process into concrete economic support measure, so that – in the words of Prime Minister – the former
freedom fighters can be transformed into productive farmers,” Malaya said.

The Philippine ambassador also said that Malaysian business leaders have seen the stable economic growth here in the country so they are concentrating to be a part of it.

It was learned that the 7.2% GDP growth of the Philippines last year was the second largest economic growth in Asia and the highest among the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).