NEWSFLASH

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RAMOS ASSURES JAPANESE BUSINESSMEN
(Reprinted with permission from The Philippine Journal)

Tokyo, Nov, 20, 1997 - The Philippines has been the country least affected by the continuing turbulence in East Asia. This was confirmed by President Fidel Ramos in a conference with top Japanese businessmen and industrialists yesterday, during which he credited his administration's macro-economic fundamentals and restructuring measures.

A the same time, the President assured them that the Philippines remains committed to market-oriented liberalization and deregulation in foreign trade and investment.

"We will continue to seek better and more effective ways of returning business to the private sector and of levelling the playing field," he said.

He added that the country is strengthening its legal structure, reforming its tax system and generally improving market conditions.

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