Publish Date : 16-Sep-2014
The ties between our countries run deep. At one point in time, the Philippines was the principal trading hub for Spain in Asia, as demonstrated by the Galleon Trade that lasted not too long—just three centuries. One can even see our countries’ historic connections in our food, from paella to churros, which hopefully we will have tonight. Most important of all, however, one can find it in the genuine feeling of kinship Filipinos feel for Spaniards, and a kinship Spaniards have likewise demonstrated towards Filipinos. For instance, we will never forget and will always be grateful for the banner saying “You are not alone, Philippines” unfurled in a football match, and for the donations to Typhoon Haiyan victims given by Spaniards from all walks of life, from industrialists to humble families in provincial towns.
All these mean that, as you explore opportunities in my country, you will find that you are not entering unknown territory. Instead, you have the opportunity to write a prosperous new chapter in a land where you have had a continuous and durable presence since 1521.
As the Spanish economy shows encouraging signs of recovery, I believe that this is an opportune time to invite you to invest in a resurgent economy. From 2010 to 2013, we registered an average growth of 6.3 percent; compare this to our growth from 2006 to 2009, which was at 4.3 percent, and primarily consumer driven. You would also have heard of our other economic achievements: Over the course of our administration, we have received something in the neighborhood of 20 positive credit ratings actions from agencies around the world, the most prominent of which came last year, when we were granted investment grade by Moody’s, Standard & Poor’s, and Fitch; the World Economic Forum’s Global Competitiveness Report cited the Philippines as the most improved country since 2010; and various publications and groups herald us as our region’s bright spot, and as Asia’s Rising Tiger, among many other positive remarks.
All of this, we have to stress, is only the beginning. Our focus has always been on inclusive growth, which necessarily means prioritizing our greatest resource—the Filipino people. Initially, with our limited resources, we focused on helping the poorest of the poor, the poorest quintile of our population. We have succeeded in lifting around 2.5 million of our citizens above the poverty line. But we will not stop there. The goal now has shifted to ensuring that those we term the “near poor” will be pushed further away from the poverty line, so that a sudden event, such as a single medical catastrophe or a natural disaster, will not bring them back to living below the poverty line.
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