26 April 2016-Against a backdrop of slower economic growth and the government’s thrust for Singaporean business to internationalize, about a hundred representatives of the Singaporean business community attended the business seminar entitled “Philippines Market Seminar: Opportunities in the Philippine Consumer Market” jointly organized by the Philippine Trade and Investment Center(PTIC)-Singapore, the apex business chamber in Singapore-the Singapore Business Federation, and International Enterprise (IE) Singapore, held at the SBF Headquarters on 22 April 2016.
In his keynote speech, H.E. Ambassador Antonio A. Morales, talked about the strong economic and trade relations between the Philippines and Singapore and noted that Singapore is the Philippines’ fifth largest source of investments globally and the topmost in ASEAN. Singapore is likewise the fifth largest trading partner of the Philippines, he added. Since there are more than 200 weekly flights between the Philippines and Singapore, Amb. Morales said “now is the best time to visit the Philippines, feel the pulse of the country and see for yourselves the dynamism of the economy and meet with local players to understand better the many opportunities in the Philippines to expand and grow your business.”
Commercial Counsellor Glenn G. Peñaranda of PTIC-Singapore delivered a powerful powerpoint presentation about the economic developments in the Philippines that would make the country stand out as the best place to locate Singaporean business and serve as a hub from which to expand further in the bigger ASEAN market. He noted the myriad opportunities in the Philippine consumer market and advantages that the country offers in many areas, such as the 100 million market, highly trainable, educated and service-oriented workforce. Mr. Penaranda ended his presentation by stating, “Singapore has been a part of the Philippine growth story, let the Philippines be a part of Singapore’s growth story.”