SFA-AGR-284-08

PHILIPPINE EMBASSY IN THE HAGUE HOSTS BRIEFING

ON THE PHILIPPINE ECONOMY

24 April 2008 - The Philippine Embassy in The Hague, in cooperation with the Philippine-Netherlands Business Council (PNBC), organized an Economic Briefing on the Philippines on 16 April.  Eight (8) Dutch companies representing varied sectors such as tourism, processed food, fruits, agricultural technology and telecommunications attended the briefing. Dutch business support agencies such as the Netherlands Council for Trade Promotion (NCH) and International Business and Cooperation (EVD) were also represented.

Commercial Attaché Alma Argayoso gave an overview of the state of the Philippine economy, the investment climate in the country as well as the opportunities in identified priority sectors. Agricultural Attaché Ana Abejuela, on the other hand, focussed on the opportunities for Dutch companies in the Philippine agricultural sector.

The networking reception after the presentations provided all the participants the opportunity to interact with each other as well as to speak with the Philippine Ambassador Romeo Arguelles, PNBC Chairperson Ton Hens and/or other officials of the Embassy.

As a means to sustain the exposure and promotion of the Philippines in the Netherlands, the Embassy intends to follow-up the Economic Briefing with a series of calls on city mayors, chambers of commerce and business groups. A trade mission to the Philippines in the latter part of this year or early 2009 is envisioned to be the culminating event of all these trade and investment promotion efforts. END

wingret