The biggest and most highly anticipated business conference in the country is back in full physical after two years of doing it virtually due to COVID-19 pandemic, Ferdinand Ferrer, chairman of the 48th Philippine Business Conference & Expo (PBC&E) announced.
The 48th PBC&E, the biggest annual business conference in the country, will be held on October 19-20 to be conducted full face to face at The Manila Hotel.
"We are extremely excited to announce that PBC this year will be in full face-to-face. We want to send the message across that the business community is serious to get back on track and help the government sustain its growth momentum,” Ferrer said.
The conference carries the theme “The Philippines is ready and open for business,” which highlights the readiness of the Philippine business to fully open up and help the economy grow and move towards achieving its 2040 vision of Matatag, Maginhawa at Panag na Buhay. Ferrer said that the conference will look into how the new government will build on various economic reform measures initiated by former President Rodrigo Duterte to strengthen the country’s economic gains, solidify its leadership position in the ASEAN region and make a real difference to the economy and the Filipino people.
Topping the list of confirmed speakers are Secretaries of Finance Benjamin Diokno, Arsenio Balisacan of the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA), Atty. Ivan Uy of the Department of Information, Communications, and Technology (DICT) and Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines, H.E Huang Xillian, among others.
“We are still a few more days before the actual event but at the moment we are already running out of seats. This is a good problem though. Definitely, we will try to accommodate all local and international attendees,” Ferrer added.
One of the highlights of the conference is the presentation of policy recommendations to Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. This year’s PBC will feature plenary sessions with local and international speakers and a dialogue with the country’s top economic managers who are expected to share their insights on the socio-economic agenda of the new administration.
The PBC&E is PCCI’s annual business event that serves as a venue for policymakers, business leaders, diplomats, academe, and MSMEs to meet and discuss issues and come up with policy recommendations to help create a business environment that is sustainable and resilient.