12 November 2015 - The Philippine Consulate General in Toronto, in partnership with the Philippine Economic Zone Authority, the Philippine Embassy in Ottawa and with the Philippine Trade and Investment Center, New York hosted a forum, entitled “Doing Business in Philippine Economic Zones,” at the Ontario Investment and Trade Center (OITC) on November 09.

Ms. Corie McDougall, Area Director for Southeast Asia of the Ontario Ministry of Economic Development, Trade and Employment, opened the program with her welcome remarks, wherein she highlighted Ontario’s past and ongoing business engagements with the Philippines.

Philippine Ambassador to Canada Petronila Garcia delivered a keynote address to the forum participants, touching on the positive developments in the Philippines that have caught the attention of the Canadian government.

Trade Representative John Paul Iñigo of the Philippine Trade and Investment Center in New York gave an overview of the Philippine business climate, focusing on the concept of why “It’s More Fun” to do business in the Philippines.

The main topic of doing business in Philippine Economic Zones was ably delivered by the Director General of the Philippine Economic Zones Authority (PEZA) Dr. Lilia B. De Lima, who gave an informative presentation on why PEZA is well suited to work with Canadian businesses looking to grow and expand in the Philippines and to make the country their hub in the Southeast Asian region. Dr. De Lima also gamely answered questions from the participants during the question-and-answer segment following her presentation.

The event was very well attended with over forty representatives of Canadian companies based in Ontario with business interests in global development, management and investment, commercial real estate development, construction management, business consulting, investment banking advisory services, sheet-metal and plastic manufacturing, financial services,  business process outsourcing, IT outsourcing and business solutions in the manufacturing, retail, telecommunications, among others.

Deputy Consul General Ms. J. Susana V. Paez delivered the closing remarks for the event while Consul Bolivar Bao of the Philippine Consulate General in Toronto steered the forum as Master of Ceremonies. END