PTIC-London Conducts a Business Forum on Investment and Trade Opportunities in the Philippines The Philippine Trade & Investment

Center (PTIC), the commercial section of the Philippine Embassy in London, successfully held a forum on investment and trade opportunities in the Philippines on 11 July 2012 at the auditorium of Berwin Leighton Paisner (BLP) LLP. The event was organised in partnership with The Worshipful Company of World Traders and attended by London business executives in the areas of infrastructure, PPP, energy, tourism, agriculture, IT-BPO and manufacturing. Mr. Robert Gross, a partner at BLP LLP and Mei Sim Lai, Master of the Worshipful Company of World Traders gave welcome remarks. Mr. Gross talked about opportunities in PPP on infrastructure projects based on his recent visit to Manila, while Ms. Mei Sim Lai talked about the importance of trade with ASEAN countries and the growth opportunities in the said region including the Philippines. Philippine Embassy officials led by Ambassador to the Court of St. James, H.E. Enrique A. Manalo, presented a portrait of the Philippines as an emerging economy and the growing bilateral economic and close trade ties between the Philippines and the United Kingdom. He further mentioned the successful official visit of President Benigno S. Aquino III wherein business deals worth a billion dollars were forged between Philippine and British companies. Ms. Umali, head of PTIC-London presented trade opportunities in the Philippines, particularly identifying products that can be sourced by the UK such as semiconductor and electronic products, fresh and processed food, and marine products, design-driven products that include homestyle furnishings and furnitures, wearables such as fashion accessories, bags, shows and jewelry, garments and textiles, and IT-BPO and related services. Moreover, she invited the audience to the international trade shows in the Philippines such as Manila FAME, and IFEX, where world-class Philippine products are showcased. On the other hand, Mr. Vicente Casim reported about the current Philippine investment climate, business opportunities open to foreign investments, and the priority investment sectors under the 2012 Philippine investment priorities plan that includes infrastructure, PPP projects, IT-BPO, creative industries & knowledge based-services and tourism investments, among others. The Worshipful Company of World Traders is one of the Livery Companies of the City of London. Their members come from the international trade fraternity with the aim of raising awareness and understanding of, and standards of practice in world trade.