DTI Secretary Ramon Lopez:  Philippine Growth Story Momentum to Continue

Secretary Ramon M. Lopez speaks about “Partner Philippines: Building Value Together” (photos by NYPCG)

13 September 2017, NEW YORK – Philippine Trade and Industry Secretary Ramon M. Lopez presented the Philippines’ economic developments, growth trajectory, and investment opportunities at an Investment Forum held at the Philippine Center in New York on 31 August 2017.

The event undertaken by the Philippine Trade and Investment Center in New York with the support of the Philippine Consulate General and Ernst and Young, provided the US Business Sector, media, and economic analysts a first-hand account by one of the Philippines’ senior economic managers of the growth momentum of the Philippines.

Speaking at the Forum, Secretary Lopez emphasized the major selling points of the Philippines from a firm commitment to inclusive growth for all under President Rodrigo Roa Duterte’s 10-Point Socioeconomic Agenda, the focus on good governance, business and investment facilitation, the country’s strong human resource capital

undergoing a demographic sweet spot, the Build Build Build Infrastructure Program, to the strong macroeconomic fundamentals.

The Secretary fielded questions on the current business environment, the new growth areas, the massive infrastructure program, and proposed tax reform measures

Joining Secretary Lopez at the Forum were Trade Undersecretary Rowel S. Barba, Consul General Theresa Dizon-De Vega, Trade Representative Nicanor Bautista, Mr. Albert Del Rosario, Jr. of PLDT, and Ms. Hazel Gendrano of Ayala Land. Mr. Del Rosario and Ms. Gendrano, representing the private sector spoke about the new products and developments in their respective companies with both stressing that now is a very opportune time to invest in the Philippines.

During his official visit to New York, Secretary Lopez likewise held meetings with various investors in the Business Process Outsourcing Management sector. He likewise met with the Philippines-US Society, Citigroup Vice Chairman Jay Collins, Robert Llames of Enterprise Solutions, and major US companies in the apparel and fashion accessories field including the American Apparel and Footwear Association (AAFA). The AAFA discussed extensively with the Secretary ways to collaborate in enabling more products for the US to be manufactured in the Philippines given the country’s strong human resource. END

Secretary Lopez (center) with from Left: US-Philippines Society Executive Director Hank Hendrickson, Usec. Rowel S. Barba, Roberto Llames of Enterprise Solutions, Consul General Theresa Dizon-De Vega, Citigroup Vice Chair for Corporate and Investment Banking Jay Collins, and Trade Representative Nicanor Bautista

For more information, visit www.newyorkpcg.dfa.gov.ph/ www.newyorkpcg.org or https://www.facebook.com/PHLinNY/