Tribuna España boosts RP-Spain biz relation

With the aim to promote and develop trade links between Philippines and Spain, the recently concluded 4th Tribuna España presented business and investment opportunities between the two countries.

Tribuna España is an annual forum between Spain and Philippines attended by representatives from the government, private sector, non-government organizations (NGOs), academe, and other members of society intended to enhance Philippine-Spanish relations.

And in this year’s 4th Tribuna España, Cebu has been chosen as the event’s venue and host for the 24-man Spanish delegation.

The event had speakers from the Philippines and Spain and the forum focused on "How to Implement Trade and Investment Projects," with emphasis areas of Tourism, Energy and Infrastructure, Agribusiness or Agri-industry, Business Process Outsourcing (BPO), Export and Import, Human Resources and Immigration.

Presentations were made by high-ranking representatives from the Philippine companies and organizations such as: AsiaPro, Aboitiz Equity Ventures, Cebu Investment Promotion Center (CIPC), Center for Food and Agribusiness, Department of Tourism (DOT); and from Spain are, NDRA Sistemas, Gestinsa Inmobilaria, Spanish Institute for Foreign Affairs, Edibon Technical Teaching Equipment and Tecnove.

Joel Mari Yu of the Cebu Investment and Promotions Center presented Cebu as an IT hub in Asia and he stressed that Cebu has proven and demonstrated its potential as a business process outsourcing being considered the top destination against other BPO hubs in the world.

He also presented that aside from IT, light engineering and manufacturing are also major industries in Cebu that Spanish investors could tap into.

Sebastian Lacson, vice president of the Visayan Electric Company (VECO) said that Spanish investors could also look into investment opportunities in energy.

He said that energy investment in the country has a huge demand especially that the country will need more electricity as industries are growing in the coming years.

He said that in 2012, the country will need more power and new generators all over Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao to supply this huge demand. Lacson said that Spanish investors could look into this demand because 80 percent of the market remains untapped by both local and foreign investors.

He said that there are two ways to enter the Philippine energy market and it can be through privatization of government facilities or putting up renewable energy facilities that will produce renewable products such as ethanol and biofuel demanded by the renewable energy bill.

Aside from IT, BPO and energy, infrastructure development projects with the government are also one opportunity that speakers presented to potential Spanish investors.

Agri-business was also presented and Rolando Dy from the Center for Food and Agribusiness said that since the Philippines is among the world’s food basket and major food exporter, it produce agricultural crops that can be marketed for Spain.

He said that we export moringga, virgin coconut oil, marine aquaculture, food supplements and organic products and Spain could be a market for these products especially that Spain and Philippines shares almost the same cultures and tastes.

However he warned that, “there is more to be made in investing in the Philippines but there are also challenges. Investing here is not just a walk in the park because you have to establish good partnerships to navigate the market,” he told the Spanish delegates.

A Twin City Agreement with Barcelona, Spain has also been signed by Cebu City in the hopes to strengthen back its ties with the Spanish government and spur more economic activities between both cities.

Europe Division of the Bureau of Export Trade Promotion ranked Spain in 2005 as the country’s 32nd trading partner accounting for 0.18 percent or $154,800,000 of the total Philippine trade with the world.