UK business network promotes PH as viable trade destination

The biggest business network in the United Kingdom is aggressively promoting the Philippines as a viable trade and investment destination among small and medium-sized British enterprises, as the country remains a dynamic, rapidly growing market that offers huge opportunities for growth and expansion.

John Longworth, director general of the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), said in a briefing Wednesday that while many of the biggest British companies and brands were already in the country, the Philippines remained unfamiliar to most SMEs.

“(The country offers) a huge opportunity for British SMEs because the Philippines is one of the largest countries in Asia and one of the fastest growing economies. It’s got an English-speaking workforce; there’s a lot of young professionals here that are skilled; there is a growing consumer base; and one of the reasons I’m here is to open up that consciousness to the UK business community because the opportunities are huge,” Longworth explained.

“When I look at the members of British Chamber here, in terms of big companies, there are already a lot of huge British companies, and for those companies, the Philippines is recognized. But for SMEs, they are less conscious of the opportunities (here),” he added.

According to Longworth, there are huge opportunities in back office operations; professional services; high-end manufacturing; food sourcing; oil and gas; as well as real estate.

Longworth’s visit to the Philippines included meetings with members of the British Chamber of Commerce Philippines, which is chaired by Christopher J. Nelson; British Ambassador Asif Ahmad and officials from the UK Trade and Investment Office; and representatives of British companies here and local players led by the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

“(Longworth’s) visit is greatly appreciated by the Board. He came at a time when the British Chamber of Commerce Philippines is at the peak of its commitment to become more inclusive, transparent and dynamic in delivering quality service to our members,” Nelson said.

According to Nelson, the BCCP continues to work closely with UK government and the trade ministry to encourage British and Philippine companies to collaborate. The group also continues to dialogue with the Philippine Department of Trade and Industry on how to further ease doing business in the country and how to better facilitate the entry of UK SMEs.

Part of the BCCP’s initiatives to boost trade relations between the Philippines and the UK was the implementation of the British Business Center project, which provides assistance to British SMEs wanting to export or do business in the Philippines. This was in response to the growing interest of UK SMEs to expand their business to emerging markets like the Philippines. Amy R. Remo