PRESIDENT Benigno S. Aquino III met with executives of leading business organizations in the United States during his one-day working visit in Chicago, Illinois on Wednesday (Thursday in Manila).
President Aquino, accompanied by some of his key Cabinet secretaries, had a roundtable discussion with representatives of various international companies organized by the US-Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Business Council, US Chamber of Commerce, and the National Center for Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation at the TransUnion Headquarters here.
During the discussion, the President had the opportunity to hear from the participants their experiences in doing business in the Philippines, as well as to get their feedback on how the government could improve the country’s business climate.
Communication Secretary Herminio Coloma, Jr., who was present during the meeting, shared to the media several key points discussed by the officials.
Secretary Coloma said David Neenan, president of International TransUnion, was the first to say his piece, expressing his company’s appreciation of the Philippine government’s thrust of promoting inclusive growth.
He said Neenan also mentioned his organization’s efforts in working with the Land Bank of the Philippines in assisting small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to gain access to financing.
Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima noted that the government is taking steps to reduce the cost of doing business for SMEs in the Philippines, said Coloma.
Senior executive of GE Transportation, Thomas La France, meanwhile expressed interest in participating in the country’s infrastructure development efforts.
“President Aquino replied that being an archipelagic country, the Philippines needs to improve connectivity by expanding the existing nautical highway, improving roll-on roll-off and port facilities. Possibilities for improving the country’s railway system were also mentioned,” said Coloma.
Federal Express managing director for legal, trade and international affairs, Ralph Carter, then spoke about his company’s involvement in improving the Philippines’ links with the global supply chain.
President Aquino also made a pitch for Romblon’s high-quality marble to be exported to other countries, and encouraged business companies in the United States to look into potential business opportunities in Romblon province’s marble industry.
“President Aquino cited his recent experience in seeing high-quality marble products in Romblon that need to be transported to international markets,” Communication Secretary Herminio Coloma, Jr. said following the discussion.
Federal Express (FedEx) managing director for legal, trade and international affairs, Ralph Carter, expressed his company’s willingness to assist in transporting and promoting such products.
FedEx is an international shipping company that caters to heavy shipments.
When visiting Romblon last January, President Aquino saw different marble sculptures from local craftsmen.
He said he was impressed with the unique designs and ideas of local sculptors, whose works unfortunately lack promotion.
President Aquino’s pitch was part of efforts to revive Romblon’s marble industry, which has been greatly affected by the increasing use of synthetic tiles and ceramic products
For his part, Secretary Purisima said the proposed Customs modernization law is being discussed in Congress to address the issue on transport and trade facilitation.
President and CEO of Underwriters Laboratories and a former Vice President of the US-ASEAN Business Council, Keith Williams, discussed the importance of generation-skipping technology in accelerating the pace of Philippine growth and development, said Coloma.
In response, President Aquino noted that the Philippines’ Department of Science and Technology (DOST) is implementing the concept of greater and faster connectivity.
Meanwhile, JP Morgan Chase & Company’s US Midwest Chairwoman, Melissa Bean, expressed great satisfaction with the competence and talent of Filipino workers. Noting the company’s existence in the Philippines since 2005, she said JP Morgan’s service centers in the country have more than 13,000 employees.
Another participant, Julie Hoeniges of Caterpillar, spoke of the company’s expanding involvement in the Philippines, particularly in the mining industry.
Secretary Purisima discussed the government’s program to ensure that mining activities are conducted in a socially responsible manner and that local governments and communities obtain a fair share of the revenues, said Coloma.
Michael Fernandes of Cargill likewise expressed interest in increasing investments in agri-business, noting that the company has been actively involved in the Philippines since 1948.
“He also lauded the recent issuance by President Aquino of Executive Order Nos. 179 and 180 on the use of coconut levy funds to promote the growth of the industry and the welfare of coconut farmers,” said Coloma.
Another participant, a senior officer of Microsoft, reaffirmed the company’s commitment to improve the competitiveness of Filipino talent.
Coloma said the officer mentioned a joint project between Microsoft and the Philippine National Police in the sphere of cyber-security.
President of the National Center for APEC, Monica Whaley, meanwhile lauded the Philippine government’s path-finding initiatives in promoting financial inclusion across all spheres of socio-economic activity.
At the end of the forum, Mark Mealy, Vice President for Policy of the US-ASEAN Business Council, presented President Aquino two NBA jerseys: a red Chicago Bulls shirt bearing the President’s surname, and a green Boston Celtics shirt, in honor of the President’s working visit to Chicago and his being a Celtics fan during his family’s stay in Boston in the early 1980s.
Other Cabinet members present during the meeting were Cabinet Secretary Jose Rene Almendras, Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz, Trade Secretary Gregory Domingo, National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Director General Arsenio Balisacan, and head of the Presidential Management Staff Julia Abad. Also present were Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Laura del Rosario, Philippine Ambassador to the US Jose Cuisia, Jr., and Consul General Generoso Calonge. (PND)