PH Ambassador to Switzerland Delivers Welcome Remarks During the Roundtable Discussion on the PH

Ambassador to Switzerland Denis Yap Lepatan (third from left) delivers his welcome remarks at the start of the Business Roundtable Discussion on the Philippines along with President and Chief Executive Officer, EMS Group Philippines Perry Ferrer (leftmost), Board of Investment Director of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Evariste Cagatan (second from left), Undersecretary of Trade and Industry Ceferino S. Rodolfo (third from right), Swiss Asian Chamber of Commerce (SACC) President and Philippine Consul, a.h. Dr. Urs Lustenberger (second from right), and Group Chief Operation Officer / Regional Manager Asia, Avaloq Dr. Pascal Föhn (rightmost). (Berne PE photo)

BERNE 11 October 2019 — Ambassador to Switzerland Denis Yap Lepatan delivered the welcome remarks during the Business Roundtable Discussion on the Philippines jointly organized by the Swiss Asian Chamber of Commerce (SACC) and the Philippine Trade and Investment Center (PTIC)-Geneva on 26 September 2019 in Zürich.

In his remarks, Ambassador Lepatan noted the advantages of the Philippine economy, including the right economic fundamentals in place, its demographic sweet spot, and its resilience to external shocks, as evidenced by its performances during the Asian financial crisis of 1997-1998 and the global financial crisis in 2008-2011. He noted that this resilience had enabled Philippine companies to prosper, allowing these companies to partner with the Government in “further unleashing the potentials of the Philippine economy, not the least in bridging the infrastructure gap that in the past constrained the development of trade, industry, and agriculture.”

Ambassador Lepatan also highlighted the Philippines’ huge domestic consumption and the two major sources of cash, such as foreign exchange remittance and revenues from the business process outsourcing industry, which contributed to the country’s ability to withstand external economic and financial shocks.

During the event, Trade and Industry Undersecretary for Industry Development and Trade Policy Group Ceferino S. Rodolfo gave a presentation on the growth of the Philippine economy, its strengths, sectors for promotion in the Philippines, as well as opportunities and benefits in investing the Philippines. He also mentioned the free trade agreement between the Philippines with the European Free Trade Association, which includes Switzerland and Liechtenstein, and the complementarity between the Philippines and the Swiss economies.

The event was participated in by executives from 27 Swiss companies. END

Trade and Industry Undersecretary for the Industry Development and Trade Policy Ceferino S. Rodolfo delivers his keynote presentation during the discussion. (Berne PE photo)

Trade and Industry Board of Investment Officer Evariste Cagatan gives her presentation on the Philippine manufacturing sector, noting that the Philippine economy is one of the best performing economies in Asia. (Berne PE photo)

Ambassador to Switzerland Denis Yap Lepatan (third from left) and Trade and Industry Undersecretary Ceferino S. Rodolfo, with the other panellists, pose for a souvenir photo following the discussions. (Berne PE photo)

For more information, visit www.bernepe.dfa.gov.ph or https://www.facebook.com/PHinSwitzerland.