20 September 2013 – The Philippine Embassy in Budapest Hungary participated in the ASEAN Business Forum organized by the Budapest Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI) at its headquarters on September 12.

This initiative was undertaken by the BCCI in collaboration with the five ASEAN-member countries represented in Hungary - Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam- to establish closer cooperation between Hungarian businesses and ASEAN in recognition of the potential for expanded economic, investment and tourism cooperation.  The forum follows in the heels of the ASEAN Awareness Forum organized in October 2012 by the BCCI, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Hungary, and the Hungarian Institute of International Affairs (HITA). 

The Philippine presentation titled, “The Philippines – Your Travel Destination and Business Partner in Asia,” was delivered by Frankfurt-based Marketing Manager Dakila F. Gonzales of the Philippine Tourism Office and Berlin-based Commercial Counsellor Jose Antonio S. Buencamino. Through statistical data, photographs and music, the Hungarian audience was invited to consider the advantages of visiting and doing business in the Philippines. As Mr. Gonzales defined the Filipino’s unique character, “Filipinos – a people with a Western mind, a Latin heart and an Asian soul.” END