PHILIPPINES REPRESENTED IN INVESTMENT FORUM IN ZURICH

Philippine Ambassador to Switzerland Leslie Baja was key resource person during the investment forum entitled “The Pulse of Asia” held in Zurich on 31 March 2015.

The forum was organized by Touchstone Ventures, a Swiss investment company which visited the Philippines on 12-16 November 2014 together with a Swiss business delegation led by Ambassador Baja to explore the diverse business opportunities in the Philippines.

The investment forum seeks to convince more Swiss and European capitalists to invest in Southeast Asia, i.e. ASEAN.

Ambassador Baja said that “ASEAN is thinking globally and the countries that comprise the region are preparing together to achieve economic integration in 2015 and beyond.”

He cited the ASEAN Economic Community which makes the region a more attractive investment destination by turning ASEAN into:  (a) a single market and production base, (b) a highly competitive economic region, (c) a region of equitable economic development, and (d) a region fully integrated into the global economy.

Ambassador Baja, in his engagement with the participants, also promoted the Philippines as the best business partner in Asia with its advantages of the ready human resources and high-skilled Filipino workers, business incentives, overall good governance, and the country’s wealth of natural resources, including its tourist attractions.

Touchstone Ventures is an investment firm which seeks to provide investors personalized access to direct investment opportunities into emerging market businesses in Southeast Asia.

Ambassador Baja (right) looks on as Touchstone Ventures officials give a presentation on investing in Southeast Asia.