THE scheduled week-long investment roadshow by a topnotch business delegation from the Philippines has officially begun.
The 2nd Investment Roadshow was organized by the Philippine Embassy with the Philippine Consulates General in Los Angeles, Chicago and New York (sponsored by the Phil. Trade and Investment Center, in cooperation with the Council on Trade and Investment for Filipino-Americans or COTIFA, and the Fil-Am Chamber of Commerce of Orange County or FACCOC) to entice more investors in the United States to invest in the Philippines.
On April 23, more than a hundred businesses, entrepreneurs and company executives attended the first leg of the roadshow presentation in Costa Mesa.
Here, one message resonated among the discussions and presentations: the Philippines has gone from “sick man of Asia” to “emerging tiger.”
Ambassador Jose L. Cuisia expressed great optimism for the country’s future, highlighting its recent upgrade and upbeat forecast made by global investment advisers.
He is confident that the Philippines will continue to gain worldwide recognition due to cost-effective operations and a young and educated work force.
Currently, the Philippines has a flourishing Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) industry, which consists of call centers, back-end support, customer service and data input companies.
Pres. Aquino’s commitment to eradicating corruption in government has also improved global perception of the country.
Because of the great potential for tapping investors in California, the Philippine Consulate General (PCG) has established a permanent Philippine Trade and Investment Department as well.
Earlier, in a PCG Town Hall meeting, Cuisia also underscored the importance of bilateral trade relations to economic growth.
He noted the positive outlook being afforded to several industries (BPO, information technology, etc.)
Best of all, Cuisia emphasized the importance of the Fil-Am community’s participation to promoting bilateral and investment relations between the US and the Philippines.
“By increasing awareness about the positive developments in the Philippines, we will also be able to build the initial network and create solid leads to more prospective investors in the Philippines,” Cuisia said.
Finally, the Philippines is inching its way steadily to progress and consistent economic growth.
And this is all being made possible by the spirit of bayanihan — Filipinos across the globe, united in lifting the country to new heights.
