Inaugural Address:

Dr. Benjamin E. Diokno

Dr. Benjamin E. Diokno, Secretary of Finance of the Philippines, delivered the opening remarks at the 45th Annual Meeting of the Association of Development Finance Institutions in Asia and the Pacific (ADFIAP). In his welcome address, he praised the Association for its ongoing efforts to support regional sustainable development through financial and technical assistance. Despite the challenges of a post-pandemic world now facing the ripple effects of the Ukraine war, governments and development institutions must work together to build inclusive economies so that we can continue to bear the brunt of climate change's ill effects.

According to Dr. Diokno, the Philippine government is prepared to face these challenges with a comprehensive eight-point socioeconomic agenda designed to address immediate challenges and chart a clear path to recovery and growth. The goal is to create high-quality, green jobs, and higher investments in human capital development, smart infrastructure, and digitalization are required to achieve this goal. The goal is for the Philippines to become upper-middle-income status by 2024. To achieve this, and promote a sustainable response to the climate crisis, the government has incorporated green, resilient, and development or green strategies into post-pandemic recovery plans