DTI Pitches PH Trade and Investment Opportunities to Swiss Businesses

ZÜRICH – The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) through the Philippine Trade and Investment Center (PTIC)–Geneva organized a Philippine Business Roundtable for Swiss companies in Zürich, Switzerland on 22 January to highlight the positive macroeconomic fundamentals of the Philippines (PH) and to promote the country’s trade and investment opportunities. The roundtable was co-organized by the Switzerland Global Enterprise (S-GE) and the Swiss-Asian Chamber of Commerce (SACC).

DTI Assistant Secretary Angelo Taningco presented updates on the PH economy and identified factors that make it an attractive investment destination for Swiss businesses. He cited certain areas for boosting trade and investment between PH and Switzerland such as in aerospace, agriculture, electronics, healthcare, IT-BPM, and food and beverages. He likewise discussed opportunities under the bilateral free trade agreement (FTA) between PH and the European Free Trade Association (EFTA).

In a previous statement, DTI Secretary Ramon Lopez said that these roundtable meetings with global companies and business chambers will “be our venues to present the huge opportunities in the country that has a fast-growing and more robust economy with meaningful economic strategies and reforms.”

“The Philippines is on a break out and it is the best time to partner with us, given the country’s strong macroeconomic fundamentals,” Asec. Taningco said during his keynote presentation. The Roundtable was opened by Philippines Ambassador to Switzerland Denis Lepatan while Ambassador Manuel A.J. Teehankee, permanent representative to the World Trade Organization, also joined the discussion.

“I encourage Swiss companies to look to the Philippines,” SACC President and Philippine Honorary Consul Urs Lustenberger said during the session. S-GE’s Alberto Silini, in a short video, also enjoined Swiss companies to use the free trade agreement as an entry point to the large, growing Philippine market.

The Geneva Chamber of Commerce and 14 companies from the pharmaceuticals, manufacturing, logistics, equity investments, software development, and research and development sectors actively participated in the open forum.

DTI, CHINESE FIRMS TO COLLABORATE IN PROMOTING PH AS INVESTMENT DESTINATION

Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Ramon Lopez (3rd from L) discussed possible investment promotions collaboration with Travelzen Worldwide Co., Ltd., Group of Companies and DCM Group of Companies Chairman Thomas Tar Pui Kwok (leftmost) and Yeung Marine Holdings Inc Chairman Donny King Shing Yuen (2nd from L). The collaboration will be in a form of a Philippine Investment and Tourism Center at Shanghai, China. According to Sec. Lopez, the partnership will aid DTI in its investment promotion programs and encourage more Chinese investors to visit the Philippines and look for investment opportunities in the areas of tourism, real estate, and food processing. Travelzen Worldwide Co., Ltd., is the largest B2B hospitality related company in China. Meanwhile, Yeung Marine Holdings is a registered Filipino company that primarily engages in sales and trade of various marine products globally. The group is also involved in fruit distribution, food processing, freight forwarding, aquaculture, and construction. The meeting was also attended by Special Envoy to the People’s Republic of China Ramon Tulfo (3rd from R) Board of Investments (BOI) Managing Head and DTI Undersecretary Ceferino Rodolfo (2nd from R), BOI International Investments Promotion Service Chief Lanie Dormiendo (rightmost).