President Duterte is back in the country from his official visit to India, securing $1.25 billion worth of investments that are expected to generate job opportunities for Filipinos.

The President arrived in Davao City early Saturday morning after attending the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)-India commemorative summit where he pushed for protection of the welfare of migrant workers as well as intensified regional cooperation against terrorism and violent extremism.

“I am glad to be home after my first and official visit to India,” the President said upon arrival at the Davao International Airport after a three-day trip to India.

“At the sidelines of the summit, I am pleased to report that the Philippine and Indian business delegations forged a total of US$ 1.25 billion worth of investments, which will create approximately 10,000 jobs,” he said.

Duterte said the new business agreements in information technology-business process outsourcing, tourism, hospitality, aviation and pharmaceuticals promise” positive change in the lives of our people.”

At the ASEAN-India summit, the President said the regional leaders have reaffirmed their resolve to work together in the fight against terrorism and violent extremism that reach maritime borders.

Duterte said he advocated the country’s position “in maintaining and promoting open, free, stable and secure maritime spaces and responsible use of maritime domain, particularly in the Indo-Pacific region.”

In his “engaging” meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Duterte said they discussed their common concern for the welfare and protection of their nationals abroad.

Duterte encouraged India to work with ASEAN in line with the principles and standards outlined in the ASEAN Consensus on the Promotion of Migrant Workers.

“At the bilateral level, I urged India to expand our cooperation in the areas of defense, counter-terrorism and the fight against illegal drugs,” he added.

He said they also agreed to enhance two-way trade and investment to achieve a healthy balance of trade.

The President, meantime, has encouraged regional allies to go beyond consultation and instead move together to combat lawless elements disrupting security and stability in the region.

“We recognized that the Philippines, India, and ASEAN face similar challenges and threats on land and at sea,” he said.

He said ASEAN could be the “common platform for dialogue and, more importantly, a venue for concerted actions against the threats to the security and stability of nations in the Into-Pacific region.”

“We need to go beyond consultation. More than talk, we need to move together to deter, interdict and neutralize those that seek to destabilize our region,” he said.

On India’s Republic Day, Duterte said India has shown its growth as a democracy and an economy during the parade.

He said the Republic Day parade showed “resolve of a proud people to work together to achieve their goals and counter the dangers of its well-being as a nation.”

Source:
courtesy of MANILA BULLETIN

by Genalyn D. Kabiling

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