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- EDD K. USMAN | Twitter: @edd1819 | Instagram: @bluestar0910 | Facebook: SDN — SciTech and Digital News
MANILA (SDN) October 16, 2023 — The United States Chamber of Commerce (USCC) headed by President and CEO Suzanne P. Clark will participate in this year’s 49th Philippine Business Conference and Expo (PBC&E) on October 25-26.
The USCC made this announcement in an email message to SDN — SciTech and Digital News sent by Ms. Michelle Koepp of the USCC.
“(I) am reaching out from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Wanted to make you aware that from October 25-26, 2023, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce will be in Manila to attend the 49th Philippine Business Conference and Expo,” Koepp says.
Here’s what the USCC says, on its online portal, of Clark:
“With a global perspective and a fierce commitment to free enterprise, Clark’s experience in the private sector deeply informs her leadership of the U.S. Chamber — the world’s largest business organization representing employers of every size and sector in Washington, D.C., across the country, and around the globe.”
The event to be held at the landmark Manila Hotel, Rizal Park, Manila, Metro Manila, will feature a “special session” called “Strengthening Philippines-U.S. Partnership” with United States Ambassador to the Philippines MaryKay Carlson.
Chaired this year by Visionary Architect Feleno “Jun” A. Palafox, Jr., the PBC&E is one of the featured events of the Coalition of Filipino American Chamber of Commerce (COFACC) and organized by the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI), headed by President George Barcelon.
Koepp said the “U.S. Chamber will sign a Partnership Agreement” with PCCI during the special session with Carlson.
“The U.S. Chamber’s visit to the Philippines underscores its belief that the Philippines, through assets like its strategic location, natural resources, and human capital, will become a first-world economy by 2050,” she says.
According to Palafox, the Philippines transforming into a First-World economy by 2050 can be done “if present challenges are achieved”.
“2050, we have to start now,” he says as cited by the PBC&E.
First, the Philippine vision requires “immediate, short-, medium-, long-term, and visionary goals, plans, and programs that address barriers to growth and sustain the development of the sectors where the country has competitive edge”, he adds.
It can be recalled the Filipino urban planner played a key role in the formulation of the Philippine Development Plan (PDP) 2023-2028.
Palafox is banking on the country’s many advantages, among them, strategic location, natural resources, human capital resources (demographic sweet spot) as the catalysts to become a first-world economy by 2050.
Thought leaders, policymakers, national and local gov’t execs, top business and international leaders expected
COFACC is described on its website as “a national association of autonomously operating Filipino American Chambers of Commerce organizations united together with a common mission of uplifting the economic conditions of the Filipino American small and micro businesses and ultimately achieve to be the No. 1 spot as the most Influential ethnic minority group with a significant positive impact to the US economy”.
Organizers said the PBC-E’s 2023 edition is expected to gather thought leaders, policymakers, national and LGU (local government unit) executives, top business leaders, and international leaders in what could be an interesting two-day discussion and sharing of insights geared toward achieving the 2050 vision.
Traditionally, the PBC&E, the largest business conference in the country, opens with the Vice President of the Philippines and concludes with the Philippine President receiving a set of policy recommendations emanating from the various regional and industry consultations.
In this vein, Palafox cited the collaboration between the private and public sectors. (✓)