PCCI lines up business missions

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) is organizing business missions to the country this year as it seeks to draw in more firms to invest.

In a telephone interview, PCCI president Miguel Varela said two foreign business missions are expected to arrive in the country within the first quarter.

“There will be a business delegation from Turkey, as well as Japan, early this year,” he said.

He said a delegation composed of more than 10 firms engaged in various industries from Turkey is set to visit the country in the last week of this month.

“This is a big delegation and the companies want to see what business opportunities are available,” he said.

A business delegation composed of firms from Japan, meanwhile, is planning to visit the country in March.

Varela said business delegations from Myanmar and Iran, are also expected to be in the country within the year.

The business delegations, he said, show that the Philippines is a preferred destination for business by foreign companies.

“The interest of foreign firms in the Philippines is still very high. It looks like the momentum we saw last year will continue this year,” he said.

To encourage more foreign firms to do business as well as create jobs in the Philippines, the PCCI intends to continue to work with its partner organizations in other parts of the world to organize more business missions to the country.

“We want to develop this further so we can sustain the country’s gains,” Varela said.

The Philippines has become an attractive location for business for foreign firms given its strong economic growth, skilled workforce as well as efforts to improve governance and the investment climate.

The PCCI, the country’s largest business organization, has a nationwide network of 110 chapters, 137 industry sectors, 37 business councils and 1,500 direct corporate members.