By Alithea De Jesus
A trio of big companies have reaffirmed their confidence to further growth their businesses in the Philippines saying the country has what it takes to thrive even amidst the global challenges and uncertainties, including the coronavirus pandemic. This was bared by Lufthansa Technik Philippines, Medtecs International, and Texas Instruments in their testimonials during the official launch event of the “Make It Happen In The Philippines” campaign recently (November 24, 2020).
Led by the Philippine Board of Investments (BOI) in partnership with the United Kingdom (UK) Government, the campaign was launched internationally, via the Zoom online meeting platform with a live feed from the onsite event in Makati Diamond Residences and livestreamed via the Philippines Business Facebook Page (www.facebook.com/philippines.business). Over 600 attendees and viewers composed of local and international investors; would-be investors businessmen; industry associations, and chambers of commerce; local and international government officials; and relevant stakeholders attended the Zoom online platform was live-streamed on Facebook.
The “Make It Happen in the Philippines” is the country’s new international investment promotion brand primarily designed to generate investment leads. It targets investors in 18 markets in Asia-Pacific, Europe and America and initially focuses on promoting the key industries that have the most potential for foreign investment, namely: automotive, aerospace, electronics, IT-BPM, and copper/nickel.
The “Make it Happen in the Philippines” is more than just a brand or a tagline. It speaks of who we are as Filipinos and as a government. It highlights our genuine Filipino trait of resilience and ‘make it work’ mindset that exudes strength and adaptability even in times of adversity,” Trade Secretary and BOI Chairman Secretary Ramon Lopez said during his keynote speech at the campaign’s launch event.
Lufthansa Technik Philippines CEO Elmar Lutter affirmed how the Filipino workforce has driven the Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) operations of global aerospace in the country. He also highlighted the government’s support to grow investments in the Philippines. “We’re confident that with efficient testing and the coming vaccines, I am sure that the industry will recover in no time. We continue to provide jobs to over 3,000 capable Filipinos as engineers and technicians. We appreciate the government’s efforts to attract investments through one-stop-shop and support it extends to all investors, export sectors and key industries to navigate the scene” Lutter said.
“DTI’s open ear anytime and to anything has encouraged us to invest more despite the uncertainties including this pandemic. We have to make long-term decisions and are glad to have reliable partners like DTI, among others. We welcome the relentless efforts of the DTI in showcasing the Philippines to the rest of the world,” Lutter added.
Medtecs International CEO Clement Yang meanwhile emphasized how his company was able to double its production of masks despite the pandemic due to the growing demand for Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs). “We continue to serve the demands of the public along with about 32 hospitals to date. We have been in operations for over 30 years starting with sales of about US$2 to 3 million to about US$50 million today,” Yang said and this was possible due to the “excellence of the Filipino workers and stable labor costs for the past 30 years.” “I also admired the resilience of the Filipinos, starting from the Taal eruption, the virus pandemic, and the successive typhoons and how the people were able to overcome all of them,” Yang continued.
Texas Instruments (TI), one of the country’s top semiconductor firms and among the biggest electronics exporters, also sounded off on the capabilities of the Philippines to further grow its business. “We have been here for over 40 years and we continue to provide critical applications in industrials, automotive, personal electronics, communication equipment, and enterprise systems around the globe,” stated Ralph Morales, TI Director for Government Affairs and Public Relations.
Morales pointed out that “we continue to see a steady stream of Filipino talents ready to take on the challenging and fast-paced of work in TI. The Filipino workforce are problem solvers who shape the future of electronics and operative with passion and thrives in the TI culture that is trustworthy, innovative, inclusive, competitive, and results-oriented.”
“We applaud the brand of service of the DTI, PEZA, and BOI not only in attracting more investors to the country but also in their efforts to further improve the business landscape. Through these efforts, we look forward to a flourishing Philippine landscape that generates jobs for the Filipinos and revenues for the export sector in the overall development of the local industries,” Morales added.
The “Make It Happen In The Philippines” brand campaign is the first-ever unified, multisector, multimarket, and sustainable campaign that passed through a series of consultations with concerned stakeholders, and market-tested (as a standard industry practice in developing brands.) It replaces the dozens of international investment promotion brands and campaign initiatives separately used by various investment promotion agencies in the Philippines.
Prospective investors and businessmen interested to do business in the Philippines can talk or request a free consultation with a dedicated Investments Specialist by visiting https://philippines.business/contact/ or sending an email to philippines.business@boi.gov.ph. Regular updates are also posted in the campaign’s official social media handles Philippines Business on Facebook and Instagram, philippinesbiz on Twitter, BOI Philippines on Linkedin, and Board of Investments Philippines on Youtube.