PCCI pushes for inclusive business climate

Ayala Avenue in Makati City (Wikipedia)

MANILA, Sept 1 (PNA) — The country’s largest business group, Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) eyes inclusive business climate by supporting the local businesses.

PCCI Honorary Chairman Sergio Ortiz-Luis, during the Tourism Investment Forum in Pasay City on Tuesday, said the business group is proactive for the growth of local small and medium enterprises (SMEs).

Ortiz-Luis cited PCCI’s initiatives to support local SMEs which include its Business Matrix Program (BMP) that targets to link SMEs to big companies in the country as well as to improve access to finance; infrastructure development; food security efforts; strengthening the education system; and its Green Philippines Island of Sustainability (GPIoS) aiming for sustainable industrial development of Metro Manila and Region IV-A,

“In the area of infrastructure development, we have been very vocal with our advocacy to prioritize critical infrastructure projects that are urgently needed and can generate the highest impact,” Ortiz-Luis said.

“These include power generation and transmission, water supply, seamless road network, airport development and flood mitigation. This is even made more critical given the impact of climate change which is expected to bring in more heavy rains in the country,” he added.

“Private sector is also involved in promoting and tapping corporate social responsibility programs of companies, particularly the large ones, to generate more and better-quality jobs especially for the middle class,” he noted.

The PCCI executive said the strengthened collaboration among private sector, government, and other stakeholders will help the country to be globally competitive by improving the quality and productivity of SMEs.

Ortiz-Luis said the country can overcome the middle-income trap by having an inclusive business climate.

“A poorer country may not have as much resources, but can still benefit if it uses its limited resources efficiently to help uplift the lives of its people,” he said.

“Towards this goal, we commit to work with government to hurdle the bumps along the narrow road to inclusive and sustainable progress,” he added. (PNA)
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