BusinessWorld sets forum on emerging business risks, prospects for 2024

MANILA, Philippines — In a world beset by economic uncertainty, businesses need more than ever to stay on top of and prepare for incoming risks, while looking out for and capitalizing on ripe opportunities. Success or failure hinges on one’s capacity to foresee and respond to changing circumstances, as well as seize new possibilities as they arise.

This is the purpose of the BusinessWorld Forecast 2024 forum to be held on Nov. 22 at the Grand Hyatt Manila.

Centered on the theme, “PH Rising: Keeping the Momentum,” the event aims to provide valuable insights into sustaining the Philippines’ economic growth while it navigates the ever-evolving business landscape.

The event will feature insightful keynote presentations, interactive panel discussions, fireside chats, and networking opportunities designed to empower attendees with the knowledge and resources needed to tackle the challenges and capitalize on the opportunities that lie ahead.

Eminent speakers such as Pavit Ramachandran, country director for the Philippines at the Asian Development Bank; Ndiamé Diop, country director for Brunei, Malaysia, Philippines and Thailand at the World Bank; and Ragnar Gudmundsson, resident representative to the Philippines at the International Monetary Fund, will deliver keynote speeches addressing the country’s economic outlook for 2024, financial stability risks for the year, and the necessary initiatives for post-pandemic development, respectively.

The event will also include engaging panel discussions on the theme of identifying risks and opportunities that will influence the economy. For the panel on “Growing Prospects in Philippine Property,” speakers Jon Canto, partner and managing partner of the Manila office of McKinsey and Company; William Thomas Mirasol, president of Federal Land Inc.; and Noli Hernandez, executive vice-president for sales and marketing at Megaworld Corp., will offer their insights.

Speaking on “Equipping Energy for Greater Demands,” which will discuss the country’s energy needs in its development, will be Anthony Oundjian, managing director and senior partner for Manila at Boston Consulting Group; Emmanuel Rubio, president and chief executive officer of Aboitiz Power Corp.; John Eric Francia, president and CEO of ACEN; and Jerome Cainglet, president and chief operations officer of Energy Development Corp.

For the panel on “Points of Convergence: Meeting Consumers Where They Currently Are,” which focuses on consumer engagement in a changing landscape, Yukiko Tsukamoto, partner at Bain and Co.; Patricia Poco-Palacios, president and COO of Global Dominion Financing Inc.; and Stella Christine Dizon, vice-president for Business-to-Business at Globe Telecom, will be sharing their thoughts.

The final panel discussion, which centers on “Next Generation Management: Young Drivers of Business,” will talk about millennials and Gen Zs in management positions and how they could usher in a next generation of business leadership. Speaking on this topic will be Carlos Ramon Aboitiz, chief corporate services officer at Aboitiz Power Corp., Isabelle Gotianun Yap, executive director and vice-president of Eastwest Banking Corp., and Jericho Go, senior vice-president and business unit general manager of Robinsons Land Corp.

There will also be one-on-one fireside chats with leading experts about topics relevant to pursuing business in a changing world.

Ramon Monzon, president and CEO of the Philippine Stock Exchange, will speak on the market outlook for bonds and equities in 2024; while David Hardoon, CEO of Aboitiz Data Innovation, will speak on the topic of generative artificial intelligence and its capabilities.

The upcoming BusinessWorld Forecast 2024 conference is presented by AboitizPower and Megaworld; with gold sponsors ACEN, Ayala Corp., First Gen Corp., GCash, Globe, National Grid Corporation of the Philippines, Prime Infra, and SM Investments Corp.; silver sponsors BDO, Federal Land NRE Global, Inc., Global Dominion Financing Inc., and SM Supermalls; bronze sponsors AppleOne Properties Inc., Meralco, Robinsons Land Corp., SGV, Toyota Motor Philippines, and Villar City; partner organizations Asia Society of the Philippines; Bank Marketing Association of the Philippines; British Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines; French Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Philippines; Fiera de Manila, Inc.; J. Legaspi Computer Graphics; Management Association of the Philippines; Nordic Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines; Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry; Philippine Franchise Association; and Philippine Retailers Association; and media partners The Philippine STAR and One News.