Parramatta based accountancy firm Moore Stephens director, Johnny Ching said the event was an example of the co operation that existed between Australia and the Philippines in a post-corruption environment.
Mr Ching is treasurer of the Australia Asia Business Connection and secretary of the Australia Philippines Business Council.
Nearly 400 businessmen including Australia’s top CEOs, managing directors and other executives attended the forum and over 300 attended the dinner. A CEO Roundtable and business matching sessions were highlights of the business program.
Australia Philippines Business Council (APBC) President, Mr Eduard Alcordo said President Aquino’s visit to Australia was well received and put the spotlight on serious reforms that have transformed doing business in the Philippines.
“Corruption and lack of transparency were the major impediments to Australian direct investments but as one of our member CEOs noted, Australian investors can no longer ignore the Philippines now that they have been eliminated,” Mr Alcordo said.
Mr Alcordo confirmed that member companies of APBC are working on A$12 billion worth of foreign direct investments in Public Private Partnership (PPP Projects) in mining, medical/pharmaceutical, education, skilled manpower, tourism, real estate, business processing and agriculture. These projects are in various stages of development.
“APBC strongly supports transparency and favours public tender as the means of awarding these projects”, he said. “APBC has offered its assistance so tenders are facilitated expeditiously and in a timely manner.”
The Australia Philippines Business Council (APBC) is a private sector organisation whose primary aim is to promote mutual benefits between the business communities of both countries.
For over 35 years, the APBC has promoted trade and investment between Australia and the Philippines.
