PBBM, other gov’t officials grace the event
The European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (ECCP) and the EU-ASEAN Business Council (EU-ABC) hosted a Gala Dinner for European and ASEAN member state heads, delegates, and business executives currently in the country for the 2023 European-Philippine Business Dialogue.
Held last Thursday in Makati, the gathering of more than 200 attendees was graced by President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., who served as the event’s keynote speaker.
Other esteemed speakers of the Gala Dinner include Office of the President Executive Secretary Hon. Justice Lucas Bersamin, Ambassador to the EU Delegation to the Philippines H.E. Luc Véron, EU-ASEAN Business Council Incoming Chairman Mr. Jens Ruebbert, and ECCP President Mr. Lars Wittig.
In his welcoming remarks, newly-elected EU-ABC Chairman Jens Ruebbert welcomed the local and foreign delegates while highlighting the significance of their visit and engagements in the country.
“At the Council, we believe firmly in the need to enhance and positively evolve relations between ASEAN, its Member States, including the Philippines, and all of Europe. Not just on trade and investment issues, but more broadly on ensuring just and equitable economic development, and on securing a sustainable future for all of us,” said Ruebbert.
“From our meetings this week, and from our previous engagement with the President during our ASEAN-EU Business Summit in Brussels in December 2022, it is clear to me and to our members, that the Philippines should be a leading candidate for the recommencement of Free Trade Agreement negotiations with the EU,” he added.
Meanwhile, ECCP President Lars Wittig also addressed the attendees and the President in his opening remarks, and further reaffirmed the Chamber’s commitment “to continue working with the Philippine government to contribute towards achieving a greener, more inclusive, prosperous, and sustainable Philippines.”
“There is no better time to invest in the Philippines than NOW. It is incumbent upon us to champion the Philippines as an investment destination, and to put the Philippines on the spotlight,” emphasized Wittig.
On his part, H.E. Ambassador Luc Véron also spoke in regard to the 60 years of diplomatic relations between the EU and the Philippines. The Ambassador expressed his optimism towards the many milestones achieved and collective efforts done to improve the ease of doing business.
“In the economic field, we acknowledge the efforts of the Philippine government to create a more conducive investment climate, notably the passage of a number of legal reforms that further open up the economy to foreign investment,” said Véron.
“My EU colleagues and I, as well as the Chamber are committed to help smoothen the path for the Philippines for more prominence on the EU map, but it is only your government that can keep the country on this path through effective implementation of its planned reforms. In the end, we are all working towards the same goal: to further strengthen our ties and uphold our common values,” he concluded.
Following the 2023 European-Philippine Dialogue held earlier the same day, the Gala Dinner was an excellent avenue to further discuss ways of championing the Philippines forward, and for celebrating camaraderie and the long-standing relations between Europe and the Philippines.
The dinner was also attended by House Speaker Hon. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez, Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA) Director General Ernesto Perez, Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) Commissioner Atty. Romeo Lumagui Jr., Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) Secretary Ivan John Uy, Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma, Department of Transportation (DOTr) Undersecretary Elmer Sarmiento, Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Undersecretary Maria Blanca Kim B. Lokin and Assistant Secretary Glenn Peñarada, Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Assistant Secretary Lilian De Leon, and other government representatives, as well as the Excellencies and members of the diplomatic corps, and Business and industry representatives.
