PHL did a great job in hosting the 31st ASEAN Summit and Related Summits – ABIS 2017 delegates

31st ASEAN Summit and Related Summits ended with overflowing positivity from both the remarks from the delegates and the outcome of this milestone in ASEAN history. ASEAN Business and Investment Summit also enthusiastically expressed their insights on the country’s maximization of gains through our remarkable leadership.

From all that positivity a few delegates stepped up and gave their personal reactions on the Summit.

Vasyl Davydko, the Chief Operating Officer of First Circle Growth Finance provides loans and short term financing to micro-, small- and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in the Philippines. 

Vasyl Davydko, Chief Operating Officer of First Circle Growth Finance

“I think the Philippines is at par with other countries in organizing events of high level,” Davydko praised the Philippines. 

“Everything is fantastically organized, all the attendees are happy,” he added. 

“This puts the Philippines on the spotlight in the entire world as an emerging economy and as an emerging power. I think it is great for the country and the companies that operate here.”

Yet despite the fast growing economy of the Philippines, Davydko is still worried about the “MSMEs lending gap.” 

So in order for that to be bridged, he says that “the Central Bank and institutions like ours are putting efforts to make it easier for MSMEs to have access to capital in order to continue growing.”

Mr. Harbans Singh of the Federation of Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry shared his reactions by stating that,

“Any business that you will start in the Philippines will boom. It is because the people of the Philippines are educated and they like to grow and they like everything new.”

Mr. Harbans Singh

Other than that, he described his experience with Filipinos, stating a very long and positive chain of remarks. He said that they are “very polite, they respect everyone, obedient and dedicated. They understand everything and are studious.”

Singh praised Duterte for his exemplary governance and encouraged people to support him and many similar to him.

Former Ambassador to the United States Jose L. Cuisia, Jr. (R)

Former Ambassador Jose Cuisia said that with such a huge event that was executed effective and efficiently, the Philippines has to be credited for such a task.

“It was great, if you look at how the organizers rolled out the red carpet to the world leaders, it’s been fantastic,” Cuisia said. 

“The leaders themselves were very impressed with the gala dinner that brought out the creativity and the artistic talents of Filipinos to the impressive barongs and Filipiniana gowns that they were provided with. Food and entertainment were world-class,” he added.

Cuisia was impressed at how the security managed to keep all 21 leaders safe considering that having that number in one place is incredibly challenging. He was grateful that there was no unforeseen events.

“All the leaders recognize that for their countries to prosper, they will have to be part of the cohesive economic community. It’s not easy, there are so many differences in standards and practices from one country to another, and different levels of development,” Cuisia then said.

He also acknowledged the collection of challenges that would be faced in the future, citing airports and tollways as examples in which “we have problems in right of way that takes a project too long to get started.”

“But an event like this will make problems to surface and will hopefully bring to an agreement among the leaders,” he remarked.

“What I just hope is that there will be concrete achievements after this. If actions are not taken, it becomes a wasted opportunity. The agreements must be implemented as quickly as possible particularly in the trade and investments area,” Cuisia concluded.

Palafox and Associates Principal Architect and Urban Planner, Felino “Jun” Palafox Jr.

Palafox and Associates Principal Architect and urban planner Felino “Jun” Palafox Jr. was delighted knowing that the Summit’s outcome was “an affirmation of what I have been advocating for the past 45 years…about connectivity and context for urban renewal and development.”

Palafox explained that “The big mansions and those with high-density enclaves have higher carbon footprint if they are in the middle of the cities.”

Noting that developers are diverting themselves to “prime urban land resources, preventing more families and employees to be closer to their place of work, encouraging more urban sprawl to encroach into the forests and into the farms.”

This is what “We can learn from the heads of state even in the areas of real estate and urban planning,” Palafox said.

The urban designer shared his experience with Duterte’s time, concluding that it is government projects without corruption is now a reality.

Palafox iterated the corruption rates of past administrations, hearing that it was about 5 to 7% during Marcos’ time. “Under Pnoy, it’s 40% on the average. Today, there is good news. We won the urban planning design competition of Metro Davao at zero corruption.” Then announced also winning the competition for the master plan of Clark.

Philippine President Rodrigo Roa Duterte with ASEAN Business Advisory Council (BAC) Chair Jose Concepcion.

ASEAN Business Advisory Council Chair Jose Conception said, “I guess everybody sees the value of what we are doing, trying to help more people move up in life,” replying to all the positive feedbacks.

“Creating more prosperity for everybody, that’s what we are trying to do here in this event,” the ASEAN BAC Chair added.

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Source: Eagle News