38th PBC to focus on role of governance

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) will host the 38th Philippine Business Conference and Expo from Oct. 9 to 11 at the Manila Hotel which will focus on the role of governance to investment growth.

During the three-day conference, PCCI will also receive business delegations from Russia, Turkey, Oman, Myanmar, Sri Lanka and Iraq who are interested pursuing investment opportunities in agribusiness, mining, tourism, business process outsourcing and renewable energy.

PCCI president Miguel Varela said the conference intends to make the Philippines an investment destination amid the administration’s commitment to implement transparency and accountability in its transactions.

“These things more or less put the Philippines in the limelight. And our goal is to sustain the momentum,” said Varela in a press briefing in Taguig City yesterday.

Varela said the conference is part of PCCI’s INVEST 2012 program of attracting foreign businesses to explore joint ventures in key industries.

The conference will bring together key decision makers, industry stakeholders, business chambers, industry associations and foreign delegations.

Among the invited speakers are: vice president Jejomar Binay (Governance as Stimulus to Economic Growth), Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. (The Legislative Agenda: Accelerating Growth), Ayala Corp. president and chief executive officer Fernando Zobel de Ayala (The Philippines, Back in the Global Investments Radar) and Interior secretary Mar Roxas (Local Economic Development: Competitive Cities on the Rise) among others.

President Aquino would be the guest of honor and keynote speaker for the conference.

During the conference, PCCI will sign a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry for a regular exchange of business delegations between the Philippines and Oman.

The signing of the MOU will strengthen PCCI’s alliance with business groups belonging to the Gulf Cooperation Council. Countries represented in the council are Kingdom of Bahrain, Kuwait, Sultanate of Oman, Qatar, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates.