Co-Chair of the Ease of Doing Business (EODB) Task Force on Paying Taxes in the Philippines, Asian Consulting Group Chair and Chief Tax Advisor Mon Abrea, Consul General Neil Ferrer, Trade Commissioner Celynne Layug, Philippine Consulate General officials, and attendees to the International Tax and Investment Briefing and “Why Invest in the Philippines” book launch in San Francisco.San Francisco PCG photos

SAN FRANCISCO – The Philippine Consulate General in San Francisco, in collaboration with the Philippine Trade and Investment Center (PTIC) in Silicon Valley and Asian Consulting Group (ACG), hosted the launch of the 2024 ACG International Tax and Investment Roadshow in the United States.

During a fireside chat, ACG’s Mon Abrea and Trade Commissioner Celynne Layug discuss the potential expansion of the Philippine market beyond labor-intensive sectors such as business process outsourcing.

In his welcome remarks, Philippine Consul General Neil Ferrer commended ACG’s founding chair and chief tax advisor Raymond “Mon” Abrea for his latest book, “Why Invest in the Philippines?” “This book is very timely and helpful, as the Philippine Government is actively seeking foreign investments into the country,” Consul General Ferrer said.

Mon Abrea with Trade Commissioner May Celynne Layug and Filipino Swiss Hernan Lauber of Oodaalolly, a Bay Area-based chocolate producer that combines Philippine chocolate and Swiss technique in its products.

“The administration of President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr. places a high priority in promoting trade and investments, improving infrastructure, ensuring energy security and creating more jobs,” Consul General Ferrer said. “The government encourages and welcomes research and development, innovation, and growing the digital economy.”

“Now is the best time to invest and do business in the Philippines,” Consul General Ferrer emphasized.

Abrea delivered a comprehensive presentation covering investment opportunities in the Philippines, such as government incentives for foreign investors in the Philippines, as well as tax and policy reforms. He underscored the government and the private sector’s collaboration in improving the ease of doing business in the country on top of major policy reforms.

“We in the private sector work closely with the government and policymakers to help enhance business and investment opportunities in the Philippines, including following through the implementation of recent tax and ease of doing business reforms,” Abrea said.

Mon Abrea with Trade Commissioner May Celynne Layug with the Philippine American Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PACCI) of Utah during a B2B meeting at Dynamico Space.

Abrea and PTIC Silicon Valley Trade Commissioner Celynne Layug held a fireside chat addressing questions from the participants around market entry strategies, regulatory compliance, investment incentives, operational challenges, and business growth opportunities in the Philippines.

Over 40 participants attended the event, including representatives from various organizations like the San Francisco Filipino American Chamber of Commerce, and the Philippine American Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Utah, as well as members of the academe, Filipino American community leaders and business owners, startup founders, and travel agencies.

The event concluded with the launch of Abrea’s book, “Why Invest in the Philippines?,” which provides a comprehensive guide to investing and doing business in the country. Participants were given a complimentary copy of the book.

Business-to-business (B2B) meetings were held the following day at Dynamico Space to address specific questions of business owners and offer in-depth consultations with Abrea. (PCGSF Release)