MANILA -- President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Tuesday, September 6, said Indonesian investors are “very enthusiastic” about investing in the Philippines.

“Very enthusiastic naman ang mga ministers ni President Widodo, ‘yung mga prospects dito sa atin sa Pilipinas, and marami silang nakikitang mga opportunities. So we will pursue that,” Marcos said in a media interview.

The chief executive described his first foreign trip since taking office in June as “more productive than we had expected.” 

Marcos said Indonesian President Joko Widodo toured him in a mall that serves as a one-stop-shop for all local products and caters to micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs).

“And last night suddenly he invited us to see – to go to a mall. Bago nung dinner namin, pinuntahan namin ‘yung mall. ‘Yun pala, ‘yung mall na pinakita sa amin, gobyerno ang may-ari at saka ang produktong pinagbibili doon sa loob ng mall, lahat local, lahat MSMEs, lahat maliliit. Pagka masyado nang lumaki, hindi na sila pwede doon sa mall. Lilipat sila doon sa regular na mall,” said Marcos.

Marcos said they both agreed to give a helping hand in terms of improving marketing strategies and business plans. 

“And nag-agree na naman kami. Sabi niya, oo, kailangan natin turuan ‘yung packaging, ‘yung market, kung ano ‘yung hinahanap sa merkado, how do you business plan, ‘yung mga ganung klaseng bagay. Pareho sa atin,” said Marcos.

He said the Philippines’ long-standing relationship with its close neighbor, Indonesia, has served as the “primary foundation” of all the deals and agreements that seek to enhance each other’s commitments in a wide array of areas.

“Ang maganda nito, Jakarta, Indonesia long-standing – 73 years na tayong mag-partner ng Indonesia. So meron talaga tayong pundasyon na maganda na we can build on for – to develop all of these,” Marcos said.

Four deals on economy, cultural relations, and defense were signed Monday during Marcos’ state visit to the country.

The two leaders also talked “at length” regarding the role of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) “while we face the difficulties in this very volatile time in geopolitics not only in our region but also in the rest of the world.”

Marcos, on Tuesday morning, left Indonesia for Singapore, where he is set to hold separate meetings with Singaporean President Halimah Yacob and Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong to deepen and further enhance bilateral relations. (PND)