MANILA -- President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s attendance to the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Switzerland could help the country advance its economic interest, deepen its ties with other countries and showcase local investment opportunities, an economist said Monday.

Dr. Michael Batu, an economist, told the People’s Television (PTV) Laging Handa public briefing that the WEF is an appropriate venue for the country to forge close ties with other nations and for Philippine leaders and businessmen to exchange views with global decision makers and world business leaders.

“Ang kagandahan kasi ng World Economic Forum is sa event na ito ay nasa iisang location po ang global decision makers – ibig sabihin kapag nandoon po kayo ay mayroon kayong access and you can talk to them – puwede iyan sa mga tinatawag natin na mga workshop, mayroon din silang mga country strategy dialogue,” Batu said, noting that the goal is to promote the Philippines’ economic interest.

Batu said the country’s delegation can use WEF’s networking opportunities to discuss various issues with political leaders, as well as business leaders that may result to more foreign investments in the Philippines.

Aside from networking, the WEF also has learning opportunities through workshops and discussions where the members of the Philippine delegation could learn from the experiences of other countries.

“Halimbawa, kakausapin ni President BBM iyong mga world leaders at tatanungin kung papaano nila sinimulan iyong kanilang mga Sovereign Wealth Funds, at sa pamamagitan ng mga pag-uusap na ito ay matututo ang ating Pangulo, makakakuha siya ng bagong mga impormasyon kung papaano sisimulan iyong mga Sovereign Wealth Fund na iyan,” Batu explained.

“Hindi lang iyan, sa pagpa-participate doon sa mga forum, sa mga discussion ay magkakaroon po ng karagdagang kaalaman iyong ating mga business leaders sa mga latest trends, at mga best practices at mga insights sa mga new markets, at technologies,” the professor pointed out.

Also through the WEF, the Philippines can showcase itself that it is open for business, with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. promoting a well-managed Philippine economy backed by indicators such as the country’s strong economic fundamentals and its recent credit ratings, Batu noted.

“Puwedeng i-showcase ng ating Pangulo iyong performance ng ating economy, at siyempre may mga investment opportunities na kung saan ay manghihimok nga ang ating ng Pangulo ng mga foreign investments papunta sa ating bansa,” he said.

“At siyempre puwede rin pong i-promote ang ating bansa bilang isang tourist destination, at siyempre nabanggit nga ng ating Pangulo na magkakaroon nga ng soft launch na tinatawag itong Maharlika Investment Fund,” Batu added.

Dr. Batu is a Filipino-Canadian economist, specializing in applied econometrics, applied macroeconomics, development economics and the scholarship of teaching and learning economics.

Currently, he is a tenure-track Assistant Professor of Economics at the University of the Fraser Valley in Abbotsford, British Columbia, Canada. (PCO)