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TOP business leaders and government officials from the Philippines and Slovenia convened at the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) to explore new avenues for trade and investment on Mar. 12, 2025.
Clark Development Corp. (CDC) president and CEO lawyer Agnes VST Devanadera presented CDC's role as one-stop shop for regulatory functions, such as issuing business and building permits.
She emphasized Clark's substantial investment growth, with $5 billion generated in 2024 and 1,198 locators employing 143,408 workers.
"Clark is strong in manpower supply and development, managed by a dedicated department. We have partnerships with schools to address this [manpower], with internship programs starting when students become seniors in their courses," Devanadera said.
"We match different courses with various industries. We also partner with the national government for training, pre-employment programs and upskilling workers," she added.
The event was attended by Philippine Ambassador to Austria Evangelina Lourdes "Luli" Arroyo-Bernas, Trade and Industry Secretary Maria Cristina Aldeguer-Roque and other government officials.
Slovenia Chamber of Commerce executive director Marjana Majeric led the 23-member Slovenian business delegation to the Philippines.
She highlighted Slovenia's commitment to sustainability and innovation, noting that over 80 percent of Slovenia's GDP is generated by exports, with around 18 million euros worth of goods to the Philippines, including dairy products and pharmaceuticals.
The Philippines exports approximately 6 million euros to Slovenia, mainly coconut oil and electronic circuits.
For his part, PCCI chairman George Barcelon emphasized the appetite for concrete business partnerships.
He noted the promising business environments in CDC and Mindanao Development Authority.
The forum also saw the renewal of a memorandum of understanding between the two chambers, originally signed 20 years ago.
This renewed agreement aims to promote structured trade and investment, fostering stronger partnerships.
