PCCI identifies 12 growth drivers

Business Mirror
MONDAY, 05 DECEMBER 2011 21:29 MAX V. DE LEON / REPORTER


The new officers of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) will push 12 priority sectors for investment promotion under the group’s new campaign “Invest on Dozen Drivers.”


The priority sectors are agribusiness, business-process outsourcing, mining, tourism, home décors and lifestyles, shipbuilding, housing, construction and infrastructure; education, R&D and training, creative industries, electronics, transport equipment, and logistics.


Lawyer Miguel B. Varela, who was elected for the second time as PCCI president, said the sectors were chosen based on the Export Development Plan, the Medium-Term Philippine Development Plan, the “Arangkada” initiative of the Joint Foreign Chambers and dialogues with the group’s regional chambers.


“We considered all these, plus we looked at our countryside development program, cost of doing business especially power, and the existing road maps that we have. We need to consider and balance all these in coming up with mechanisms that will boost these sectors,” Varela told the BusinessMirror.


Varela said the PCCI will harness the cooperation of the various business organizations, foreign chambers, embassies and donor organizations in support of PCCI’s Invest on Dozen Drivers campaign.


The 12 sectors, he said, should be the focus for investment promotions and expansion as well as support for the growth of small and medium enterprises.


“We will proactively seek the government’s cooperation, attention and input to achieve our objectives and goals, indeed, in addressing national problems; we need a spirit of national community, a strong and shared conviction so we can find the strength to get closer to the future we all desire,” Varela said.


In the PCCI’s election on Friday, also elected were taipan Alfredo Yao as chairman, outgoing President Dr. Francis Chua as chairman emeritus, and Sergio Ortiz-Luis Jr. as honorary chairman.


Elected to the board of directors were Ramon Ang, Jose Alejandro, George Barcelon, William Co, Angelito Colona, Raul Concepcion, Eric Cruz, Donald Dee, Menardo Jimenez, Edgardo Lacson, Samie Lim, Antonio Lopa, Benjamin Philip Romualdez, Miguel Varela, Alfredo Yao, Nora Lacuna, representing the National Capital Region; Victoria Gaetos, representing North Luzon; Edgardo Nicolas of South Luzon, Francis Monera representing Visayas and Juliano Recardo of Mindanao.


The PCCI, in a statement, said Varela is no stranger to the group’s affairs, having been continuously involved in PCCI affairs and previously held its presidency in 2000-2001.


One of the most respected business leaders, Varela has held various top positions both in private business
corporations and business-civic organizations.


Under his watch, Varela vowed to strengthen the ties and partnership between the PCCI and the government by directing the PCCI’s more than 100 local chambers nationwide, 130 industry associations and close to 40 bilateral business councils, their proactive participation in various levels of governance reforms, economic development and enterprise support.


“Anchoring on the theme ‘PCCI Growth and Development Invest 2012 and Beyond,’ we shall chart the major strategies that would give more impetus to business-development growth and investment and thus be powerful motivators and partners with the government and show that, indeed, the Philippines is a good investment destination,” Varela said.


“Varela’s leadership will encapsulate an advocacy thrust that will address gaps in critical drivers that influence the country’s ability to attract and expand investment in the Philippines into four broad areas of coordination, advocacy and policy setting. These include: “P” for power and utilities; “C” for competitiveness; “C” for countryside development; and “I” for industrial and trade policy formulation,” the group said.