PHL to pitch investment opportunities for Dutch firms

At a business forum with Dutch companies, the Philippines will be spotlighting various investment opportunities in strategic sectors.

The Philippine Business Forum (PBF), scheduled on December 16 at The Hague, Netherlands, will serve as a platform to showcase advantages in the country’s maritime and logistics; energy; agro-food; information technology and software development; and creative industries.

Moreover, the activity aims to boost business confidence of Dutch firms by reinforcing the Philippines’ favorable regulatory environment, robust and sustainable infrastructure, and rich talent pool.

For their part, a number of Dutch firms will discuss the competitive advantages of investing in the Philippines. Dutch companies with an existing Philippine presence, or who are interested to learn about the Philippines further, as well as Dutch industry associations, are encouraged to attend the forum.

This PBF will be the first in-person forum in the Netherlands to be held under the new administration. Philippine Trade and Industry Minister Alfredo Pascual is set to deliver a keynote address.

Philippines to underline role in Dutch firms’ growth

The PBF will also be venue to emphasize Philippine contributions to the growth of Dutch firms.

The country’s pitch is that it is a prime investment destination for Dutch companies. This is backed by recently passed game-changing economic reforms, such as the Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprises (CREATE) Law, which lessens the country’s corporate income tax rate by 10 percentage points for domestic micro, small, and medium enterprises; and five percentage points for other corporations including foreign enterprises.

Additionally, the Philippines amended the Public Service Act (PSA), opening up sectors including telecommunications, toll roads, and shipping, to 100 percent foreign ownership. The country’s Retail Trade Liberalization Act (RTLA) and the Foreign Investments Act (FIA)were also amended, easing the entry of international firms seeking entry into previously protected sectors.

The event is being organized by the Philippine Board of Investments jointly with the Philippine Trade and Investment Center in Brussels.

Interested parties may register at https://tinyurl.com/PHNLBusinessForum or may get in touch with Ms. Christine Barawid through her email address, ChristineJanBarawid@dti.gov.ph, for more information.