German business chamber seeks opportunities in high-tech sectors

INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — The German-Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GPCCI) is expanding its focus to harness emerging sectors such as artificial intelligence, bioenergy and advanced manufacturing.

At its annual general membership meeting on April 15 at Raffles and Fairmont Makati, the GPCCI listed these industries as part of its forward-looking agenda.

“We aim to be a strategic partner that helps our members anticipate change, adapt quickly and access meaningful opportunities,” GPCCI Executive Director Christopher Zimmer said in a statement.

The business group also highlighted their milestones last year toward fostering a more robust business environment in the country.

“We remain committed to providing meaningful platforms for networking, knowledge exchange and policy discussions, ensuring that our community stays informed and well-positioned to seize emerging opportunities,” said GPCCI President Marie Antoniette Mariano.

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Key initiatives

Among the key initiatives highlighted was ProRecognition, a project aimed at providing skilled Filipino workers with guidance on qualification recognition and immigration pathways to Germany.

The Hand in Hand for International Talents pilot project, which facilitates the recruitment of electrical and mechatronics specialists for the German labor market, was also cited.

Another was the German-Philippine Business Action Portal, a platform designed to help businesses address concerns related to bureaucratic processes with government agencies.

The GPCCI said the portal has maintained a 100-percent resolution rate since inception, highlighting  ongoing efforts to improve the ease of doing business in the country.

The business chamber said that German Ambassador to the Philippines Andreas Pfaffernoschke has also expressed his commitment to help enhance the bilateral relations between the two countries.

READ: German businesses keen to explore opportunities in PH — envoy

“We will continue to further strengthen our bilateral ties, particularly in trade, investment and economic cooperation,” Pfaffernoschke said, as quoted by the GPCCI.

Earlier in January, the GPCCI released the findings of its 2024 AHK World Business Outlook Survey, revealing that 54 percent of German firms with operations in the Philippines planned to expand their workforce this year.