DTI Pitches PH Trade and Investment Opportunities to Swiss Businesses

ZÜRICH – The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) through the Philippine Trade and Investment Center (PTIC)–Geneva organized a Philippine Business Roundtable for Swiss companies in Zürich, Switzerland on 22 January to highlight the positive macroeconomic fundamentals of the Philippines (PH) and to promote the country’s trade and investment opportunities. The roundtable was co-organized by the Switzerland Global Enterprise (S-GE) and the Swiss-Asian Chamber of Commerce (SACC).

DTI Assistant Secretary Angelo Taningco presented updates on the PH economy and identified factors that make it an attractive investment destination for Swiss businesses. He cited certain areas for boosting trade and investment between PH and Switzerland such as in aerospace, agriculture, electronics, healthcare, IT-BPM, and food and beverages. He likewise discussed opportunities under the bilateral free trade agreement (FTA) between PH and the European Free Trade Association (EFTA).

In a previous statement, DTI Secretary Ramon Lopez said that these roundtable meetings with global companies and business chambers will “be our venues to present the huge opportunities in the country that has a fast-growing and more robust economy with meaningful economic strategies and reforms.”

“The Philippines is on a break out and it is the best time to partner with us, given the country’s strong macroeconomic fundamentals,” Asec. Taningco said during his keynote presentation. The Roundtable was opened by Philippines Ambassador to Switzerland Denis Lepatan while Ambassador Manuel A.J. Teehankee, permanent representative to the World Trade Organization, also joined the discussion.

“I encourage Swiss companies to look to the Philippines,” SACC President and Philippine Honorary Consul Urs Lustenberger said during the session. S-GE’s Alberto Silini, in a short video, also enjoined Swiss companies to use the free trade agreement as an entry point to the large, growing Philippine market.

The Geneva Chamber of Commerce and 14 companies from the pharmaceuticals, manufacturing, logistics, equity investments, software development, and research and development sectors actively participated in the open forum.