PH Economic Team Conducts First Economic Roadshow for Asia in SG

From left: Mr. David Mann, Managing Director and Chief Economist for Asia of Standard Chartered Bank; DBM Secretary Benjamin E. Diokno; NEDA Secretary Ernesto M. Pernia; DOF Secretary Carlos G. Dominguez III; Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea; BSP Gov. Nestor A. Espenilla, Jr., Mr. Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala, Chairman and CEO of Ayala Corporation; Mr. Ronie Ganguly, Director and Portfolio Manager (Asian Credit) of Blackrock (Singapore) Ltd.; and Mr. George Barcelon, PCCI President.

16 August 2017 – To ensure continuous positive perception of the country’s growing economy by both investors and the media, the Philippine Economic Team, led by Secretary Carlos G. Dominguez III of the Department of Finance (DOF), conducted a successful economic roadshow to engage investors and the international media in Singapore on August 15 in coordination with Standard Chartered Bank and international PR firm, Weber Shandwick.

Secretary Dominguez was accompanied other members of the Philippine Economic Team – Secretary Ernest M. Pernia of the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA), Secretary Benjamin E. Diokno of the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), and Governor Nestor A. Espenilla, Jr. of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP). They were also joined by private sector partners – Mr. Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala, Chairman and CEO of Ayala Corporation; and Mr. George Barcelon, President of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI).

Their series of activities started with a high-level breakfast roundtable hosted by the Singapore Regional Business Forum at the Ritz Carlton Millenia followed by interviews of the Philippine Economic Team by international media organizations, such as Bloomberg, CNBC, BBC and Nikkei Asia Review conducted at the Mandarin Oriental.

Hosted by Standard Chartered Bank, the Philippine Economic Briefing was then held. At the panel discussion, Finance Secretary Dominguez declared that, “With the Philippines primed to play a key role in the vibrant growth of the AEC (ASEAN Economic Community), the Duterte administration is looking at increased private sector participation in the financing of its projects meant to close the infrastructure backlog, attract investments, create jobs, and achieve financial inclusion.”

Among the other initiatives highlighted by the Philippine Economic Team to spur economic growth in the country were the proposed Comprehensive Tax Reform Program, the massive infrastructure program dubbed “Build Build Build”, streamlining government services and enhancing the ease of doing business, and BSP’s efforts to ensure price and financial stability.

The Philippine economic officials also invited potential investors to explore the following sectors in our economy: infrastructure and infrastructure financing, tourism, banking, wealth management, manufacturing, agriculture, and bond market, among others.

For more information, visit www.singaporepe.dfa.gov.ph/ www.philippine-embassy.org.sg or https://www.facebook.com/PHinSingapore. END