LAUNCH OF “MANAGERHANDBUCH PHILIPPINEN”

GENERATES INTEREST AMONG GERMAN BUSINESS

30 January 2008 - The Philippine Embassy in Berlin, in cooperation with the Philippine Consulate General in Hamburg, Hamburg Chamber of Commerce and the German Asia-Pacific Business Association (OAV), organized the launch of the “Managerhandbuch Philippinen“ on 23 January at the Chamber’s office in Hamburg.  

The “Managerhandbuch Philippinen” is written in the German language, and contains updated information on the Philippines including articles by Germans and Filipinos on doing business in the Philippines.   It is a project of the University of Applied Sciences in Mittweida under the direction of Professor Otto Hammer, who has worked in the Philippines in projects with the DEG and BOI.  

Speakers at the launch included Philippine Ambassador to Germany Delia Domingo-Albert, the Hamburg Chamber of Commerce, and the OAV.    They pointed out that the gains of the Philippine economy in 2007 provided a big potential for German business. They noted that the Philippines has not been noticed by German business as compared to other SEA countries, and  that it was time to do so.   

An important aspect of the event was the presentation by Mr. August Wilhelm Henningsen, Chairman of Lufthansa Technik AG, on its operations  in the Philippines.  He emphasized that the decision to start operations in the Philippines (Lufthansa Technik Philippines – LTP) was based on profitability, the country’s strategic location and skilled and trainable manpower.  Lufthansa Technik has to date invested close to USD 90 million in the Philippines and generated a revenue of USD 244 million in 2007.   The company undertakes several corporate social responsibility projects in the Philippines and provides the german dual tech training for its personnel.  

 The event attracted more than 60 participants from business,  media and the academe.

 Ambassador Albert also met with officials of the Chamber and OAV on the sidelines of the event. END

/wingret