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 said, during a forum in Pasay City on Tuesday, the business group is actively working for the growth of local small and medium enterprises (SMEs).
Ortiz-Luis cited PCCI’s business matrix program, an initiative that aims to link SMEs to big companies in the country, as well as to improve access to finance, infrastructure development, food-security efforts and strengthening the education system. He also cited the group’s Green Philippines Island of Sustainability, which aims for sustainable industrial development of Metro Manila and Region 4A.
“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.
“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.
“Toward this goal, we commit to work with the government to hurdle the bumps along the narrow road to inclusive and sustainable progress,” he added.