A Philippine Business Forum was held on 25 November 2019 as part of the Asia Business Series of the Western Australia Department of Jobs, Tourism, Science and Innovation (DJTSI). Photo shows Australia-Philippines Business Council President Eduard Alcordo on the podium with, from left to right, Mr. Rene Cabrera, San Miguel Yamamura Managing Director; Ms. Swati Dave, Export Finance Australia CEO; Ms. Jennifer Matthews, DJTSI Deputy Director General; and, Mr. David Singleton, Austal CEO. (Photo credit: Philippines Honorary Consulate, Perth)

CANBERRA, Australia (02 December 2019) – A successful breakfast forum on doing business with the Philippines was successfully held on 25 November 2019 at the offices of Squire Patton Boggs in Perth, Australia.

The Australia-Philippines Business Council (APBC) and the Western Australia Department of Jobs, Tourism, Science and Innovation jointly hosted the business forum with the support of the Philippine Honorary Consulate in Perth and the Philippine Trade and Investment Centre Sydney. APBC President Eduard Alcordo talked about the significant opportunities for trade and investment between the Philippines and Western Australia. Speaking on behalf of Philippine Ambassador to Australia Ma. Hellen B. De La Vega, Philippine Honorary Consul Michael Gillis discussed the strong economic growth of the Philippines and the policy reforms instituted to provide an enabling and enduring environment for business to thrive. The Philippines’ GDP surged to 6.2 percent in the third quarter of 2019 with the country jumping 29 notches to 95th place in the World Bank’s Doing Business Report 2020.

The keynote remarks were provided by Ms. Swati Dave, Managing Director and CEO of Export Finance Australia. She shared the options available for business, in particular SMEs, to pursue export-related opportunities with countries in the region. Mr. David Singleton, CEO of Australian shipbuilder Austal, delivered a testimony on the success of Austal in the Philippines. Austal opened its shipyard in Cebu province in the Philippines in 2012. In July this year, Austal unveiled its expanded state of the art facilities in Cebu that will serve as a global center for commercial vessel design, development and construction.

The forum follows the recent launch of the Western Australia Asia Engagement Strategy and the Western Australia-ASEAN Trade and Investment Dialogue held on 15 November 2019. -- END

Philippine Honorary Consul in Perth Michael Gillis delivered remarks on behalf of Philippine Ambassador to Australia Ma. Hellen B. De La Vega at the Philippines Business Forum held on 25 November 2019 in Perth. (Photo credit: Philippines Honorary Consulate, Perth)