The Philippine-British Business Council (PBBC) hosted a welcome luncheon recently in honor of the newly-appointed special trade envoy of the United Kingdom to the Philippines, George Freeman, member of Parliament for Mid-Norfolk. Freeman is one of 14 envoys appointed by the British Prime Minister David Cameron to selected high-growth and developing markets, and the first-ever British government special trade envoy specifically for the Philippines. Freeman was in the country as part of a commercial mission to explore investment opportunities in energy and infrastructure. PBBC chairman Ambassador Jesus Tambunting hailed the British government’s appointment of a special trade envoy “as a demonstration of the (United Kingdom’s) strong confidence in the growth of the Philippine economy,” and underscores the UK’s intentions and commitment to deepening existing trade ties and linkages. Seen at the event were business leaders and government officials such as British Ambassador to the Philippines Asif Ahmad, British Chamber of Commerce chairman Roger Lamb, Philippine Export Zone Authority director general Lilia de Lima, Makati Business Club chairman Ramon del Rosario Jr., and ICCP Group of Companies chairman Guillermo Luchangco. Looking forward to a more robust UK-Philippine trade relations!
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Building a country of champions
An exceptional group of leaders from the government, business, academe as well as arts and culture all gathered to participate in the Open Collaboration with East Asia New Champions 2014 Summit (OCEAN 14) held at the Mövenpick Hotel Mactan Island Cebu. The noteworthy event, an extension of the World Economic Forum (WEF) East Asia Regional Summit 2014, is aimed at building strategies for social and economic development, and was organized by the WEF community in the Philippines that include Young Global Leaders, Global Shapers, Schwab Social Entrepreneurs and Global Growth companies. OCEAN 14 co-chairmen and Young Global Leaders senator Bam Aquino, technopreneur Winston Damarillo and broadcast journalist Karen Davila warmly welcomed the participants to the three-day summit. Kudos to the entire team behind OCEAN 14 for this highly-successful gathering!