ANZCHAM vows to support GMA

The Australian and New Zealand Chamber of Commerce in the Philippines (ANZCHAM) pledged support yesterday for the new administration of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

ANZCHAM president Bill Mason said although there is much work to be done abroad to revive the nation’s international reputation "we in our Chamber stand ready to work together with President Macapagal Arroyo and her new Cabinet to jointly build business confidence in the Philippines."

ANZCHAM paid tribute to the Filipino people and their institutions for again reasserting democratic values within the Philippines and for achieving a peaceful transition of power for the second time. At this important time in the nation’s history the Philippines deserves international recognition and strong support from business organizations abroad and their national governments.

Mason said he was confident that because of the commitment to peaceful democratic change Western business organizations and governments, including Australia would give much higher priority to developing stronger ties with the Philippines in the future.

"International investment confidence is one of the keys to economic revival in the Philippines. To achieve this there would need to be strong support for new economic measures that will ensure that the Philippines becomes truly internationally competitive in both attracting foreign investment and in developing efficient export industries produced by a world class work force," he said.

"ANZCHAM will be right behind steps taken by President Macapagal Arroyo and her new Administration on these fronts."

Mason said there were two specific measures ANZCHAM would be advocating to the new administration they are:

1. ANZCHAM regards support for the development of the Mining Industry as being essential in the current economic environment. Twenty years ago 20% of Philippines exports were mining related, now it is only 3% in these modern technological times environmental interests can be protected and the Philippines economy will benefit from the increased and the creation of job opportunities.

2. Market access is also a top priority in terms of building the foundation for sound business to business relations between our three countries. ANZCHAM is committed to building two way trade and to achieve this and the private and Government sectors in both Australia, New Zealand and the Philippines should work towards ensuring that tariff and non-tariff barriers to marker access in each country do not block the way to building increased two way business.