Business Review - Vol. XXVIII No. 6 - October-November 2012 Issue (Preview)

Contents

Business Review

www.eccp.com

October - November 2012

Volume XXVIII No. 6

2013 AND BEYOND:

RENAISSANCE FOR GROWTH. CAN IT CONTINUE?

4

EDITORIAL

Creating a level playing field

5 CHAMBERS@WORK

2

ECCP Meets with various Government Officials

Meeting with the House Leadership

Legislative Tracker

13 EUROPE NEWS

Agribusiness and Food Committee

Stakeholders Meeting with DOSTRegion 7

Ecodesign is as important as the Emissions Trading Scheme

Creation of Academe / Industry Network in Cebu

EU industry leads in energy efficiency and foreign investment

Meeting with CAAP

Nanomaterials: Case by case safety approach for breakthrough technology

Meeting with DOE Secretary Carlos Jericho L. Petilla

EBO Worldwide Network

EU Switch Asia Networking

Meeting with MMDA Chairman Francis N. Tolentino

Meeting with Senator Escudero - 27 November

Meeting with DOT Usec. Daniel G. Corpuz

RHC Forum on Senior Residences in Asia

ECCP still needs feedback from members

RHC Represents the Philippines at the Retirement Communities World Asia show

22 MEMBERS’ CORNER New Members

24 IMPRESSUM

15 FEATURE

2013 and beyond: Renaissance for growth. Can it continue?

21 EVENTS

UPSTREAM Energy 2012 International Exhibition and Conference

HCC Forum ECCP Forum: Water Matters Promoting Public-Private Partnerships Forum on new SEC Rules on 60:40 Companies

PEZA Energy Savings ProgramDialogue held in Cebu

Investment and Business Environment Committee

October - November 2012

BUSINESS REVIEW

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RP-EU Relations

EBO Worldwide Network

T

he members of the EBO Worldwide Network met in Kuala Lumpur on 26 -29 November 2012. The meeting was attended by European Chambers from Australia, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Cambodia, Armenia, among others. The meeting is an annual global event supported by the European Union to assist EBOs or European Business Organization representing Third Countries in improving their representation in Brussels and in assisting EU enterprises understand market opportunities outside Europe.

EU Switch Asia Networking

T

he EU Switch Asia Networking Facility organized a meeting in Bangkok, Thailand on 13-15 November. The meeting brought together the project implementers of 52 EU Switch Asia Projects that are currently operational all over Asia since 2009. The group was joined by officials of EU Delegations all over Asia including the team leaders of the recently launched SCP Policy Support programs in selected ASEAN member countries. The event also introduced the new projects that were selected under the 4th call for proposal. At present there are 3 EU Switch Asia projects running in the Philippines, namely, the GPIoS Project or Creating Green Philippines Islands of Sustainabillty, the SMART Cebu Project, and the Zero Carbon Resorts Project. On top of these, there are 2 other regional projects which include the Philippines namely Lead Paint Elimination and the ASEAN Energy Managers Accreditation System (AEMAS).

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October - November 2012

BUSINESS REVIEW

Feature 2013 AND BEYOND:

RENAISSANCE FOR GROWTH. CAN IT CONTINUE? By: Art Villasanta

T

he year 2013 will be a happy new year. And this doesn’t refer to the traditional holiday greeting.

Most major metrics point to an improving economy in 2013 buoyed by multi-billion peso election spending and anchored on strong economic fundamentals that made the Philippines Southeast Asia’s leading growth economy in 2012.

The long-term outlook until 2016—which, coincidentally marks the end of President Benigno Simeon Aquino’s six-year term—is again optimistic.

Among the reasons: the long-sought dissipation of the Eurozone debt crisis, which is at last easing, and a Philippine upgrade to investment status by some or all three of the international ratings agencies.

The European Union is the Philippines largest single export destination. It currently accounts for 13% of total Philippine exports and 17% of overseas Filipino remittances. Exports constitute about two-fifths of the Philippines’ consumption-driven economy.

The investment upgrade, while more of a boost to government morale, is nonetheless seen as validating the success of President Aquino’s economic platform founded on boosting transparency, leveling the business playing field and restoring trust in government.

It should somewhat help remedy the Philippines’ nagging inability to secure more foreign direct investments (FDIs) because of poor infrastructure and inconsistent investment policies.

“We have to address policy inconsistencies. There are so many inconsistencies, especially in mining, utilities and infrastructure,” said Victor Abola, senior economist at the University of Asia and the Pacific.

The Philippine share of FDIs going into ASEAN in the first-half of 2012 was among the smallest in the region, said the UN Conference on Trade and Development.

GDP growth uptrend Both the government’s economic managers and foreign experts, however, agree that Philippine gross domestic product (GDP) growth in 2013 will exceed 5%. This growth could expand to 8.5% by 2016. Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Arsenio Balisacan said the country will most likely grow from 6% to 7% in 2012.

“We are already at 6.5% (in the third quarter), and the fourth quarter is always good for us because of the holiday spending. We kept growth and fiscal targets for 2012 to 2014.

BUSINESS REVIEW

October - November 2012

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Events

UPSTREAM Energy 2012 International Exhibition and Conference

U

PSTREAM ENERGY 2012, the first event in the Philippines dedicated exclusively to the upstream energy sector was inaugurated last November 14-16 at the SMX Convention Center.

Organized by Leverage International in cooperation with DOE and the ASEAN Council on Petroleum (ASCOPE), the event enjoyed industry support from the European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (ECCP), Independent Power Producers Forum (IPPF), Petroleum Association of the Philippines (PAP) and the Philippine Chamber of Coal Mines (PHILCOAL).

The Upstream Energy event was organized to promote the exploration and production of oil, gas, coal and geothermal power in the country.

Upstream Energy 2012 comprised of an international exhibition and conference. The exhibition featured international and local companies with products and services for the upstream exploration and production industry. It featured the Malampaya Deepwater Gas-to-Power project, a joint undertaking spearheaded by the Philippine Department of Energy (DOE), developed and operated by Shell Philippines Exploration B.V. (SPEX) on behalf of joint venture partners Chevron Malampaya LLC and the PNOC Exploration Corporation. Nido Petroleum Limited, an Australian firm with interests in 10 oil and gas service contracts in the Philippines also featured their projects and activities in the exhibition. Other technologies, products and services related to oil, gas, coal, and geothermal exploration and production were showcased by add energy, Crown Power, Dynalab Corporation, Fluor, Formosa Heavy Industries Corp., Hansa Meyer ATS Projects Inc., Intertek Testing Services and McConnell Dowell, among others.

The concurrent conference structured as an International Business Forum with Panel Discussions provided a platform for high-level business discussions of opportunities for accelerating the development of the upstream sector.

Upstream Energy 2012 was officially opened by Department of Energy Undersecretary Ramon Allan V. Oca who also delivered the Keynote Address at the Conference.

Speakers and moderators included Atty. Jose Layug, Jr., DOE Undersecretary; Dr. Jose Leviste, Jr., Constellation Energy Corporation chairman and Sindicatum Sustainable Resources (Singapore) advisor for Asia; Atty. Cyril

Del Callar, Del Callar and Partners chairman and former DoE undersecretary; Phil Byrne, Nido Petroleum Limited CEO; Eduardo Francisco, Banco de Oro Capital and Investment Corporation president; Dr. Francisco Viray, TransAsia Oil and Development Corporation president and CEO; Francis Abad, VenturOil Philippines, Inc. CEO; Eduardo Hernandez, Petroleum Association of the Philippines president; Sebastian Quiniones, Shell Philippines Exploration B.V. managing director; Raymundo Savella, Vice President of PNOC EC who represented Rufino Bomasang, Philippine Chamber of Coal Mines chairman; Leocadio Ostrea, Otto Energy country manager; Dr. Eva Ocfemia, assistant director for the Environmental Management Bureau at the Department of Environment and Natural Resources; Hiroyuki Matsuda, Japan International Cooperation Agency economic growth section representative; Dr. Bernardo Villegas, professor at the University of Asia and the Pacific; and Arnulfo Robles, Philippine Chamber of Coal Mines executive director, etc.

1,140 registered trade visitors and professionals mainly from the upstream energy sector flocked the three-day event. These include utility operators and developers, policy makers, investors, equipment suppliers, contractors, engineers, consultants, parties involved in offshore exploration, financial and architectural service providers, real estate developers, shipping, telecommunications, research, and manpower services professionals. Other highlights of the event were a cocktail held on the first night of the event and other networking activities.

BUSINESS REVIEW

October - November 2012

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Member’s Corner NEW MEMBERS LINDE PHILIPPINES INC.

CLEAN N GREEN SOLUTIONS INC.

30th F. Wynsum Plaza, 22F Ortigas Jr. Rd. Ortigas Center, Pasig City Website : www.linde.com.ph Primary Rep. : Mr. Tristan P. Dumlao Managing Director Activities : Industrial Gases Nationality : German

95 Maria Clara St. Quezon City Website : www.cngesi.com Primary Rep. : Mr. Jose O. Ilagan President Activities : Renewable Energy Nationality : Filipino

INSTITUTIONAL SHAREHOLDERS SERVICES INC.

INTERCONTINENTAL MANILA 1 Ayala Avenue Makati City Website : www.intercontinental.com/manila Primary Rep. : Mr. Christian Pirodon

General Manager Activities : Hotel Nationality : British

15F Solaris One Building, 130 de la Rosa St. Legaspi Village, Makati City Website : www.metrodental.com.ph Primary Rep. : Ms. Abelaine Miramor S. Pangan Senior Associate/ Recruitment Lead Activities : Investment Decision Support Nationality : Filipino

BAYER BUSINESS SERVICES PHILIPPINES INC.

SHINAGAWA LASIK AND AESTHETIC CENTER CORP.

Tower 2 Campus Ave., cor. Turin St. McKinley Cyberpark, Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City Website : www.bayerbbs.com Primary Rep. : Mr. Stefan Escher Managing Director Activities : Finance and accounting service center Nationality : German

2F Algo Center Building 1621 LP Leviste St., Salcedo Village, Makati City Website : www.metrodental.com.ph Primary Rep. : Ms. Josephine Recto Vice President/General Manager Activities : Lasik, dermatology and cosmetic surgery Nationality : Japanese

RETAIL SOFTWARE ASSOCIATES CORP. 3501 Raffles Corporate Center, F. Ortigas Jr. Road, Ortigas Center, Pasig City Website : www..retail-associates.com Primary Rep. : Mr. Bo Lundqvist President & CEO Activities : IT Consulting Firm Nationality : Swedish

ECOGLOBAL INC. 133 Soriente S. Tugatog, Meycauayan City, Bulacan Website : www.ecoglabal-inc.com Primary Rep. : Mr. Jean-Philip Henry CEO Activities : Recycling Lead Acid Batteries.

Nationality : French

MULTIRATIONAL CORPORATION Level 22, Unit 2203, PBCom Tower, 6795 Ayala Ave. cor V.A. Rufino At., Salcedo Village, Makati City Website : www.multirational.com Primary Rep. : Mr. Sean Georget Director, Sales and Marketing Activities: : Multi-disciplinary consultancy which enables foreign companies to establish their own independent Philippine companies, employees and office without risk or capex.

Nationality : Australian

Magsaysay Global BPO 17F Times Plaza Building, United Nations Avenue, Ermita Manila Primary Rep. : Mr. Erik Moller Nielsen SVP & Chief Operating Officer Activities : BPO initiatives under the Magsaysay Group Filipino

BUSINESS REVIEW

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