PH an economic force--Germany
Manila Bulletin
06 June 2013
Vice President Jejomar Binay, who met with German Foreign Minister Dr. Guido
Westerwelle on Tuesday afternoon at the Federal Foreign Office during his first
leg of five-day working visit, said Germany is not surprised by the Philippines'
posting of first quarter economic growth.
"The Foreign Minister is not surprised anymore when I told him about our economic growth. He told me, we are a miracle, that our country is an economic powerhouse. All over the world, our economic growth is recognized," he told the Manila Bulletin in an exclusive interview at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in this European capital city.
The Philippines' gross domestic product (GDP) grew by 7.8 percent in the first quarter of the year, beating its Southeast Asian neighbors and even China.
The National Statistical Coordination Board (NSCB) attributed the economic growth to the development in major sectors and the government's increased infrastructure spending.
But Binay was quick to add that on top of the Westerwelle's opening statement was the Fraport issue.
The Vice President assured Westerwelle that the Philippines is flexing its muscles to address the issue.
"We are looking forward na magkaroon ng just closure 'yung problema sa Fraport. Of course, it is a minor irritant, natutuwa tayo na gusto na nilang matapos 'yan," he said.
Quoting Westerwelle, Philippine Ambassador to Germany Maria Cleofe Natividad said that Germany wants immediate resolution of the Fraport issue which strains the continuous influx of German investments to the Philippines.
"By the way, you know the relations is very robust, we have strong relations but we have one issue to be sorted out to further strengthen the bilateral relations and so that more German investments will come in," she said, citing Westerwelle's opening statement.
Fraport is the German firm-partner of the Philippine International Airport Terminals Co. (Piatco), the consortium that got the contract to build and operate the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 (NAIA 3). The contract, however, was aborted in 2002 by the Arroyo government.
With the Philippine government's move, Fraport sought a relief from World Bank's International Center for Settlement of Investment Disputes and filed a compensation case, citing that such action was in violation of a bilateral investment treaty between the Philippines and Germany.
Binay described his meeting with Westerwelle as "very warm, very cordial."
"Damang-dama mo na talagang ang Pilipinas ay katanggap tanggap ngayong mga panahon na ito," he said.
He said the relations between the Philippines and Germany continued to be strengthened with the commitment of both sides to have high level exchange of visits.
Binay has been assured by Westerwelle that Chancellor Angela Merkel would be visiting Philippines next year.
During the meeting, Westerwelle told Binay that Merkel would not be able to visit Philippines this year because of the elections on September.
In a letter handed over to Westerwelle when he visited Manila last February, President Benigno S. Aquino III invited Merkel to visit the Philippines this year.
Merkel also invited Aquino to visit Germany, but because of midterm elections and political situation in the Philippines, Aquino shelved his visit to Germany and planned to come over next year, Natividad said.
Manila Bulletin
06 June 2013
Berlin - Impressed by the country's economic growth, the Federal
Republic of Germany has branded the Philippines as an "economic powerhouse" as
it continuously seek an immediate "closure" of the Fraport.
"The Foreign Minister is not surprised anymore when I told him about our economic growth. He told me, we are a miracle, that our country is an economic powerhouse. All over the world, our economic growth is recognized," he told the Manila Bulletin in an exclusive interview at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in this European capital city.
The Philippines' gross domestic product (GDP) grew by 7.8 percent in the first quarter of the year, beating its Southeast Asian neighbors and even China.
The National Statistical Coordination Board (NSCB) attributed the economic growth to the development in major sectors and the government's increased infrastructure spending.
But Binay was quick to add that on top of the Westerwelle's opening statement was the Fraport issue.
The Vice President assured Westerwelle that the Philippines is flexing its muscles to address the issue.
"We are looking forward na magkaroon ng just closure 'yung problema sa Fraport. Of course, it is a minor irritant, natutuwa tayo na gusto na nilang matapos 'yan," he said.
Quoting Westerwelle, Philippine Ambassador to Germany Maria Cleofe Natividad said that Germany wants immediate resolution of the Fraport issue which strains the continuous influx of German investments to the Philippines.
"By the way, you know the relations is very robust, we have strong relations but we have one issue to be sorted out to further strengthen the bilateral relations and so that more German investments will come in," she said, citing Westerwelle's opening statement.
Fraport is the German firm-partner of the Philippine International Airport Terminals Co. (Piatco), the consortium that got the contract to build and operate the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 (NAIA 3). The contract, however, was aborted in 2002 by the Arroyo government.
With the Philippine government's move, Fraport sought a relief from World Bank's International Center for Settlement of Investment Disputes and filed a compensation case, citing that such action was in violation of a bilateral investment treaty between the Philippines and Germany.
Binay described his meeting with Westerwelle as "very warm, very cordial."
"Damang-dama mo na talagang ang Pilipinas ay katanggap tanggap ngayong mga panahon na ito," he said.
He said the relations between the Philippines and Germany continued to be strengthened with the commitment of both sides to have high level exchange of visits.
Binay has been assured by Westerwelle that Chancellor Angela Merkel would be visiting Philippines next year.
During the meeting, Westerwelle told Binay that Merkel would not be able to visit Philippines this year because of the elections on September.
In a letter handed over to Westerwelle when he visited Manila last February, President Benigno S. Aquino III invited Merkel to visit the Philippines this year.
Merkel also invited Aquino to visit Germany, but because of midterm elections and political situation in the Philippines, Aquino shelved his visit to Germany and planned to come over next year, Natividad said.
Binay, who arrived Monday afternoon in Berlin started his
five-day working visit to Germany to advance the interest of some 60,000
Filipino workers.
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