TAGUIG CITY—Top business leaders and government officials from the Philippines and Slovenia convened at the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) on March 12 to explore new avenues for trade and investment.
Atty. Agnes VST Devanadera, President and CEO of Clark Development Corporation (CDC), presented the corporation’s role as a one-stop shop for regulatory functions, such as issuing business and building permits. She emphasized Clark’s substantial investment growth, with USD 5 billion generated in 2024 and 1,198 locators employing 143,408 workers.
The CDC chief also emphasized the need for more residential units and the strong focus on manpower development through partnerships with schools and the national government.
“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,” Atty. 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 Evangelina Lourdes “Luli” Arroyo-Bernas, Philippine Ambassador to Austria, Trade and Industry Secretary Maria Cristina Aldeguer-Roque, and other government officials.
Marjana Majerič, Executive Director of the Slovenia Chamber of Commerce, led the 23-member Slovenian business delegation to the Philippines. She highlighted Slovenia’s commitment to sustainability and innovation, noting that over 80% of Slovenia’s GDP is generated by exports. Slovenia exports around 18 million euros worth of goods to the Philippines, including dairy products and pharmaceuticals, while the Philippines exports approximately 6 million euros to Slovenia, mainly in coconut oil and electronic circuits.
For his part, George T. Barcelon, Chairman of the PCCI emphasized the appetite for concrete business partnerships. He noted the promising business environments in CDC and Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA).
The forum also saw the renewal of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the two chambers, originally signed 20 years ago. This renewed agreement aims to promote structured trade and investment, fostering stronger partnerships.
The event gathered key representatives from various sectors, including a Slovenian locator from the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA), and delegates from the PCCI, MinDA, and DTI. Companies from transportation, logistics, maintenance, construction, and tourism-related industries were also in attendance.
