THE foreign trips of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., accompanied by other top government authorities and businessmen, are seen to open many doors for trade and investment.

In fact, the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), with headquarters in Paris, France, has urged the Ilocano Chief Executive to make more state visits to friendly countries.

ICC Philippines Director-General Jesus Varela said the administration should take advantage of bilateral and mullilateral trade opportunities.

We agree with Varela that the Chief Executive’s foreign travels would further energize the local economy, which was ravaged by the two-year coronavirus disease pandemic.

He added: “The President is the number one salesman of the Philippines. When he visits a foreign country, with a delegation of top Filipino businessmen…they virtually ensure stronger economic ties with that country.”

The ICC, which is the largest and most representative business organization in the world, is the institutional representative of 45 million companies in over 170 countries.

For another, a state visit of the Chief Executive is the best way to strengthen security ties between member-states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

At the same time, the ICC Philippines top honcho acknowledged that having the powwerful United States (US) on our side is, without doubt, great.

However, Varela pointed out that “what we need is for neighbors to be looking out for one another.”

Oo nga.

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