Philippine Aviation Summit meeting with the BCDA | 27 February 2025 | Photo
The Philippine Aviation Summit team recently met with the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) on 27 February 2025 at the Bonifacio Technology Center to explore exciting partnership opportunities.

The BCDA was represented by Vice President Ken Peralta and Marketing and Promotions Officer Queenie Bautista. Joining from AsBAA’s side were Board of Governors Member Maximilian Motschmann and COO for Southeast Asia Penny Lim, alongside ECCP’s Industry and Government Affairs Manager Chin Nethercott and Events Manager Arci Catalan.

Soft Launching of the Stakeholders' Chamber SPACE Web Application of the SC-SDG Stakeholders | 28 February 2025 | Photo
The ECCP is honored to take part in the Soft Launching of the Stakeholders' Chamber SPACE Web Application earlier today via Zoom Video Conference.

Developed by NEDA in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), this innovative platform offers an “institutionalized space” to enhance coordination, communication, and convergence among Chamber members and government agencies. It aims to be a one-stop shop for vital information on SDG implementation in the Philippines, supporting our nation's whole-of-nation approach to a sustainable future for all Filipinos.

TESDA Signing Ceremony for the Enterprise-Based Education and Training (EBET) Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) | 28 February 2025 | Photo
ECCP President Paulo Duarte represented the Chamber at the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) Signing Ceremony for the Enterprise-Based Education and Training (EBET) Framework Act, held earlier at the TESDA Auditorium in Taguig City.

The EBET Framework Act (Republic Act No. 12063), signed into law on 7 November 2024, marks a significant milestone in enhancing the skills of the Filipino workforce. This landmark legislation establishes a cohesive framework for enterprise-based training programs, bridging the gap between education and industry needs to drive economic growth and competitiveness.

Joint Foreign Chambers Meeting with DOT Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco | 4 February | Photos
The ECCP, represented by Executive Director Florian Gottein and Aviation Committee Co-Chairperson Atty. Manolito Manalo, joined fellow representatives of the Joint Foreign Chambers of the Philippines (JFC) in a meeting with Department of Tourism (DOT) Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco earlier today at the Secretary’s Office in Makati City.

Discussions covered key policy priorities of the DOT and legislative measures critical to the growth of the aviation, tourism, and related industries. These include the Blue Economy Bill, Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) Charter amendments, the creation of the Philippine Airports Authority and the Philippine Transportation Safety Board, as well as reforms to the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) Charter/strengthening of MARINA.

The meeting also explored potential partnerships between JFC and DOT. Initiatives to promote medical tourism were likewise covered, further positioning the Philippines as a regional tourism hub.

Meeting with SAPIEA Secretary Frederick Go on Aviation Summit | 5 February | Photo
The ECCP, together with Aviation Summit co-organizer AsBAA as well as key partners DOTr and CIAC, met with Special Assistant to the President for Investment and Economic Affairs of the Philippines (SAPIEA) Frederick Go to discuss key developments in the aviation sector. The meeting covered potential collaborations to support government aviation initiatives, and aligning priorities for the upcoming 3rd installment of the Aviation Summit happening on 8-9 October 2025 at Marriott Hotel Manila.

ECCP Executive Director Florian Gottein also handed over the 2025 Doing Business in the Philippines Guidebook, reinforcing our commitment to fostering a more competitive and enabling environment for the country.

EU-PH FTA Meeting with Chief Negotiator Dora Correia | 12 February
The European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (ECCP) successfully concluded the meeting with the European Union (EU) Free Trade Agreement (FTA) Chief Negotiator, Ms. Dora Correia, on 12 February 2025 at Dusit Thani Manila. Following the first engagement of the group with Ms. Correia last June 2024, this pivotal session provided crucial updates and identified key expectations and areas of consideration in the ongoing EU-PH FTA negotiations, fostering collaborative dialogue on enhancing economic ties.

The meeting covered relevant topics, including Rules of Origin, Customs, and Trade Facilitation presented by ECCP Tax and Financial Services Vice Chairperson and SGV Tax Principal Atty. Alden Labaguis and Customs and Logistics Committee Co-Chairperson and Royal Cargo Group CEO Michael Raeuber; Intellectual Property Rights by IPR Committee Chairperson Atty. Reena Mitra-Ventanilla; and cross-sector matters such as Government Procurement, Competition, and Legal & Institutional Issues discussed by FTA Committee Chairperson and TradeAdvisors CEO Atty. Anthony Abad.

The sector presentations shed light on industry-specific concerns, challenges, and opportunities. The following representatives shared their insights for each sector:

• Agriculture - ECCP Director and Alaska Milk Managing Director Tarang Gupta

• Automotive - Peter Rankl of Continental Regional ASEAN Automotive and Autohub Group Presidential Management Officer Yeale Frokjaer

• Aviation - Lufthansa Technik Philippines CFO Rubi Pioquinto

• Energy - ECCP RE&EE Committee Co-Chairperson and Upgrade Energy Philippines Inc. President Ruth Yu-Owen

• Financial Institutions/Trade in services - ING Bank Head of Corporate Sector Coverage and Financial Institutions Lenin Duenas

• Food and Beverage - ECCP Food and Beverages Committee Chairperson and Charmant Ingredients Corporation and Managing Director Helen Grace Baisa 

• Healthcare - Sanofi Public Affairs Manager Dr. Constante Caluya and Novo Nordisk VP & General Manager Wei Sun

• Infrastructure - Acciona Regional Director for Southeast Asia Ruben Camba

Fabien Gehl, Deputy Chief Negotiator; Mikkel Sejberg, Policy Officer for the Philippines/Negotiation Coordinator; and Philipp Dupuis, Therese Yosuico, and Monica De Guzman of the EU Delegation joined Ms. Correia. Other representatives from the European-Philippine business community and national chambers also took part in the high-level session.

We thank Ms. Dora Correia and all our esteemed presenters for their valuable insights, as well as our participants for their active engagement. This meeting reaffirms ECCP’s commitment to advancing EU-PH trade relations and fostering collaborative discussions on critical economic issues.

Interested in shaping the EU businesses' advocacies on the EU-Philippines FTA? Join our ECCP FTA Committee by emailing advocacy@eccp.com.

To view more photos please visit this link: https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjC2huo

ECCP side meetings on EU-PH FTA | 13-14 February | Photo Digital Trade Chapter | No photo for automotive | Photo Customs
Following our meeting with Chief Negotiator, Ms. Dora Correia, the ECCP also held separate meetings from 13-14 February at the ECCP Office and via Zoom to cover specific chapters of the proposed EU-PH FTA particularly on Digital Trade, Automotive, and Customs.

On 13 February, FTA Digital Trade Chapter Negotiator Ms. Monica Cunningham met with representatives from the ECCP ICT-BPM-KPM Committee at the ECCP Office in Makati City to discuss potential barriers and identify key areas to foster an enabling environment for digital trade. The meeting highlighted sector-specific concerns namely, (1) customs duties on electronic transmissions, (2) data localization and cross-border data flows, and (3) disclosures and accessibility to source code.

Present at this meeting were Ms. Monique De Guzman from the EU Delegation to the Philippines, ECCP ICT-BPM-KPM Co-chairperson and Global Process Manager Inc. President Mr. Erik Nielsen, ECCP ICT-BPM-KPM Co-chairperson and Trends & Concepts Executive Director for Communications & Investor Relations Mr. Karl Bantiling, FTA Committee Chairperson and TradeAdvisors CEO Atty. Tony Abad, ECCP Senior Advocacy Officer Joaquin Reloj, SAP Vice President and Head of Government Affairs for Southeast Asia Mr. Austin Menyasz, Techne SSI Corporate Relations Lead Mr. Mark Joseph Escay, and Atos GDC Philippines Country Head and CEO Mr. Jennire Torres.

Simultaneously, the automotive aspect of the EU-PH FTA was discussed in a separate virtual session with European Commission, DG TRADE Policy Officer Thomas Kuchtik and International Relations Officer Cecilia Rovelli, as well as EU Delegation to the Philippines Minister Counsellor and Head of Economic and Trade Section Philipp Dupuis. ECCP President and Bosch Philippines Managing Director Paulo Duarte; Continental Automotive ASEAN President Peter Rankl; Autohub Group Presidential Management Officer Yeale Frokjaer; and ECCP Industry and Government Affairs Manager Chienie Nethercott provided insights on the Philippine automotive industry’s trade and investment climate.

Earlier today at the ECCP Board Room, European Union representatives Spilios Michalopoulos, Thomas McKeown, and Monique De Guzman had an in-depth discussion with the ECCP on customs, rules of origin, and other trade facilitation concerns. Joining the session were Tax and Financial Services Vice Chairperson; Atty. Alden Labaguis; Customs and Logistics Committee Co-Chairperson Michael Raeuber; Royal Cargo Assistant Vice President for Customs Clearance & Brokerage Mary Ann Jangas; and ECCP Senior Advocacy Officer Austin Sy.