PH Consulate General in Honolulu PH Holds Business Symposium at Trade Mission

Heads of the Trade Mission to the Philippines give their remarks during the Business Symposium (from left): Consul General to Honolulu Joselito Jimeno, FCCH President Dr. Nancy Walch, and Hawaii State Representative John Mizuno. (Honolulu PCG photo)

HONOLULU 29 October 2019 – The Philippine Consulate General in Honolulu helped organize a Business Symposium on 14 October 2019 at the Makati Shangri-la Hotel as part of this year’s Filipino Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii (FCCH) Joint Trade Mission to the Philippines.

The Business Symposium featured speakers from both public and private sectors and was designed to provide relevant information to trade mission participants regarding doing business in the Philippines and connect them to relevant government and business contacts.

Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Assistant Governor Iluminada Sicat provided an “Economic Prospect Briefing” noting the growth story of the Philippines, which is backed by stable macroeconomic fundamentals, as well as prudent fiscal and monetary policies. Meanwhile, Hawaii’s Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism (DBEDT) Administrator Dennis Ling provided an overview of the “Opportunities in the Hawaii Economy.”

Representatives from various offices of the Department of Trade and Industry also gave presentations during the Symposium. Magnolia Misolas-Ashley, Executive Director of the Foreign Trade Service Corps, discussed about the government’s priority programs. Lanie Dormiendo, Officer-in-Charge of the International Investments Promotion Service of the Board of Investments, enumerated the steps in setting up businesses in the Philippines, while Gina Gulle-Yap of the Export Marketing Bureau briefed the attendees on the trade relations and potential opportunities between Hawaii and the Philippines.

Atty. Renan Plata of the Bureau of Internal Revenue explained taxation in the Philippines. Businessmen Michael Aguirre and Dr. Eliseo Aurellado served as panel discussants during the session on operating businesses in the Philippines. Dr. Carl Balita, owner of Dr. Carl Balita Review Center and Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) President Ma. Alegria Limioco gave the keynote and luncheon speeches, respectively. Healthcare Information Management Association of the Philippines (HIMAP) President Cristina Coronel presented about the country’s Healthcare IT and Business Process Outsourcing (IT-BPO) Industry.

During the Symposium, various companies and institutions also shared information regarding different types of investment outlets in the country. Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) Assistant Vice President Carlo Lorenzo Cuevas spoke about bank products that residents and non-residents can avail of in the Philippines. Regional Sales Manager for the Americas of Ayala Land International Sales Incorporated Thirdy Tadena III discussed about opportunities in the growing Philippine Real Estate Market. Director for MSME/Homegrown Franchises (Non-Food) and Incoming President of the Philippine Franchise Association (PFA) Sherill Quintana shared about “Trends and Opportunities in Philippine Franchising.” Finally, QBO Innovation Hub Director Katrina Chan encouraged attendees to invest in local startups.

Consul General Joselito Jimeno, FCCH President Nancy Walch, and Representative John Mizuno also gave their remarks on the current relations and potentials for collaboration between Hawaii and the Philippines.

The Symposium was moderated by Vice Consul and Economic Officer Andrea Christina Caymo. Backed by positive feedback from the attendees, the Philippine Consulate General in Honolulu plans to arrange a similar Symposium in the next trade missions to the Philippines. END

Heads of the Trade Mission to the Philippines with BSP Assistant Governor Iluminada Sicat (third from right). (Honolulu PCG photo)

Dennis Ling, Administrator of Hawaii’s DBEDT, discusses about “Opportunities in the Hawaii Economy” (Honolulu PCG photo)

Multi-awarded entrepreneur, Dr. Carl Balita delivers his keynote speech. (Honolulu PCG photo)

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