Invest now for inclusive growth

This is a press release from the Arangkada Philippines Forum. Rappler is a media partner for this event.

MANILA, Philippines – The Philippine economy has been experiencing high economic growth but without being very inclusive in providing more and better quality jobs for the unemployed and underemployed.

This highlights the importance of more productive and inclusive investment. As such, The Joint Foreign Chambers of the Philippines (JFC) will hold its 4th anniversary forum of Arangkada Philippines with the theme, Invest NOW for Inclusive Growth!

To be held on March 3, 2015 at the Rizal Ballroom, Makati Shangri-la Hotel, this year’s theme recognizes the need to make current high growth more inclusive through increased and better investment.

Highlights

During its third forum in February 2014, JFC focused on the theme, More Reforms = More Jobs! It was a statement reflecting the Aquino administration’s agenda and aspiration to pursue inclusive growth.

Continuing on such inclusivity theme, JFC invited almost 40 speakers from the public and private sectors to discuss issues critical to more investment and a strong economy.

President Benigno Aquino III, who spoke at the 2012 forum, has been invited to address the forum on investing for inclusive growth, while Senate President Franklin Drilon will deliver a keynote speech on investment climate law reforms.

Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima will give the opening remarks, while Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz will speak about labor policies supporting increased and inclusive investment.

Makati Business Club Chairman Ramon del Rosario Jr, National Competitive Council Private-Co-Chair Guillermo Luz, International Monetary Fund Resident Representative Shanaka Jayanath Peiris, and former Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Cielito Habito will all speak about various reforms, challenges, and opportunities to enhance competitiveness and make current high growth more inclusive.

Top news personalities, including Rappler.com CEO and multi-awarded journalist Maria Ressa and PROBE TV Productions co-founder Che Che Lazaro, will moderate 4 panels on infrastructure, high employment-generating sectors, keys to unlock investment, and education and labor.

Assessment

Results of the 4th anniversary assessment will also be unveiled at the forum to update participants on the country’s progress in accomplishing the 471 recommendations listed in the original Arangkada Philippines: A Business Perspective report published in December 2010.

The Arangkada recommendations are based on insights of nearly 300 Filipino and foreign investors who, in 9 focus group discussions, provided data for the original report.

Such reforms, if implemented, could result in $75 billion in new foreign investment, create 10 million jobs, and generate over a trillion pesos in revenue for the economy within this decade by enabling strong growth of the “big winner” sectors:

• Agribusiness
• Creative industries
• Information technology
• Infrastructure
• Manufacturing and logistics
• Mining
• Tourism, medical travel, and retirement

The 3rd anniversary assessment conducted in late 2013 involved some 40 private sector experts who collectively evaluated 471 recommendations.

Ratings from previous assessments have shown that 73% of the Arangkada recommendations are active from 65% in 2012 and 51% in 2011.

Participate

To participate in the upcoming Arangkada forum, register online at http://www.investphilippines.info/forum2015/.

The full-day forum will be streamed live on the Arangkada Philippines Project’s (TAPP) website (www.arangkadaphilippines.com) and forum website http://www.investphilippines.info/forum2015/.

Live tweets and status updates will also be available on the official Arangkada social media accounts: @ArangkadaPH for Twitter and fb.com/arangkadaphilippines for Facebook.

Soft copies of the 3 assessments and the 2010 report are available on the TAPP website.

Since launching in July 2011, the Arangkada Philippines website has received over 636,436 page views from over 162,957 unique visitors from 166 destinations, which includes (apart from the Philippines), the United States, Singapore, Japan, Hong Kong, Australia, Malaysia, Canada, United Kingdom, and India.

The JFC is composed of the American Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines, Australian-New Zealand Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines, Canadian Chamber of Commerce, European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines, Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Philippines, Korean Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines, and the Philippine Association of Multinational Regional Headquarters.

For general inquiries, please call program manager, Karen Balce at +63 2 757 3500 loc 311, or email kbbalce@teamasia.com.

For registration inquiries, please call registration manager, Hanna Perez at +63 2 757 3500 local 332, or email hbperez@teamasia.com.

For sponsorship inquiries, please call sponsorship manager, Lien Dimzon at +63 2 757 3500 local 330, or email lbdimzon@teamasia.com. – Rappler.com