Five Cabinet secretaries, six diplomats and top business leaders are joining the Pilipinas Conference on Nov. 22, 2023 in Makati City to discuss the country’s economic outlook, regional cooperation and private sector investments.
The forum with the theme “The Path Towards Economic Security: Turning Global Risks into Opportunities” will be held from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at The Conservatory of Manila Peninsula Hotel in Makati, said Prof. Victor Andres Manhit, president of Stratbase ADR Institute, the organizer of the event.
It will feature three panel discussions, with the first on “Economic Outlook and Strategies for 2024”. Finance Secretary Benjamin Diokno, Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman, National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Secretary Arsenio Balisacan and Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista will explain the government’s economic programs and strategies.
Among the reactors are George Barcelon, president of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI); Edgar Chua, chairman of the Makati Business Club (MBC); Ernest Bower, president and CEO of BowerGroupAsia (BGA); and Alexander Cabrera, vice president of the Management Association of the Philippines (MAP).
Environment Secretary Maria Antonia Yulo-Loyzaga will deliver a keynote speech.
This will be followed by the second panel discussion on “Strategic Cooperation for a Secure and Robust Economic Architecture in the Philippines and in the Indo-Pacific”.
Leading the panelists are Australian Ambassador to the Philippines Hae Kyong Yu, British Ambassador Laure Beaufils of France, European Union Ambassador Luc Veron, Canadian Ambassador David Hartman, French Ambassador Marie Fontanel and US Embassy Deputy Chief of Mission Robert Ewing.
The third panel will have corporate leaders discussing “Partnerships for Long-Term Growth: Contributions of the Private Sector in Development”.
They will include Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala, chairman of Ayala Corp., Cezar Consing, president and chief executive of Ayala Corp.; Christian Gonzalez, executive vice president and global corporate head of International Container Terminal Services Inc. (ICTSI); Rubén Camba, regional director of infrastructure in Southeast Asia at Acciona S.A.; Nina Aguas, executive chairperson of Insular Life (InLife); and Peter Maquera, chief executive of Microsoft Philippines.