Just four months after its launch, the official Arangkada Philippines website www.arangkadaphilippines.com has attracted over 10,000 hits from 87 countries around the world.

Arangkada Philippines 2010: A Business Perspective is a publication sponsored by the Joint Foreign Chambers (JFC) containing an extensive menu of recommendations for improving the country's competitiveness and overall investment climate.  Investors believe that making important reforms will stimulate the seven big winner sectors -- agribusiness, BPO, creative industries, infrastructure, manufacturing and logistics, mining, and tourism, medical travel, and retirement -- resulting in more than $75 billion in new foreign direct investment, around 10 million jobs, and over P1 trillion in new revenue for the government in this decade.

In line with a commitment to make Arangkada a living document, the Arangkada Philippines website was launched to serve as an interactive one-stop portal where global investors can learn about the Philippine economic and business climate, the country's growth opportunities, and the challenges that it faces.

"This website is an important tool that monitors how those published recommendations are being received and how our partners in government respond.  As the JFC is committed to supporting the government in making changes needed for Philippine growth to accelerate, the website also allows for us to assess how we in the private sector can help in making that happen," said Henry Schumacher, vice president for external affairs of the European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (ECCP).

The website, which has been described by readers as a handy reference tool with a wealth of data on business and the economy, is constantly updated.  Readers can subscribe to the Arangkada RSS and Twitter feeds to receive relevant news about the seven big winner sectors and the Philippine business environment.  Global readers can also access the Arangkada website through www.investphilippines.info.

The JFC will host the first JFC investor forum streamed live, allowing audiences to watch the Forum in real time through the Arangkada Philippines website.   Questions sent in via Facebook, Twitter, and email will be welcomed and answered live or afterwards.  The status of the 471 Arangkada Philippines reform recommendations will be evaluated before the forum.

Speakers and panels of experts will discuss key barriers to higher growth improved competitiveness and the most important recommendations in Arangkada Philippines.  Some 300-400 participants including investors, diplomats, government officials, and industry experts are expected to attend.  The Arangkada Philippines Forum: Moving Twice as Fast! is scheduled on Jan. 26, 2012, from 8:30 - 2:00 PM, at the Marriott Hotel.

Source: Malaya; Business; 24 November 2011