The Philippines remains globally competitive in attracting foreign investments despite some criticisms, President Benigno S. Aquino III said.
During the Philippine Investment Forum in Makati City on Tuesday, the President said one of his dreams is to get manufacturing back in the country.
While there are some minor investment issues, the Chief Executive said the quality and quantity of the investors coming in remain good.
For instance, the President said, the Philippines is the fourth biggest shipbuilding country in the world and investors in this sector remain bullish and confident and that many of them are bringing in new investments.
At least two major shipbuilding companies are opening up operations in the Philippines, the President noted as he stressed that aside from shipbuilding, a steel making company is also putting up factory in the country.
“There is a steel manufacturing entity that, I think, is coming in to support these two shipbuilding entities and I was surprised with the steel making because we don’t have the comparative advantage in terms of steel manufacturing in this country," he said.
Lastly, President Aquino said that prospects are also bright with the country’s aquaculture sector adding that the country is seeing the development of enough surplus for the sector to support future value adding or processing.