Biz group demands pragmatic diplomacy

The Federation of Filipino-Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry Inc. (FFCCCII) is urging the Marcos administration to adopt an independent foreign policy and other reforms to unlock economic growth and enhance investor confidence in the country.

- By DEXTER BARRO II

With the new year, FFCCCII President Victor Lim said the economy remains constrained by headwinds such as geopolitical conflicts, governance weaknesses, and a volatile global financial environment.

Lim said these external pressures “magnify the cost of inaction at home and underscore the urgency of decisive structural reform.”

“The year ahead calls not for complacent optimism, but for disciplined, coordinated, and reform-driven action across government, business, and civil society,” he said in a statement.

To help reach the country's full economic potential this year, FFCCCII is calling for an economics-driven approach to state management.

“In an increasingly polarized global environment, Philippine foreign policy must remain principled, consistent, and firmly anchored in national economic interest,” the group said.

FFCCCII, which comprises over 170 business and trade associations, said the country's foreign policy must be independent and pragmatic.