“Gloomy and more uncertain,” as the International Monetary Fund (IMF) puts it, has described recent global economic outlooks. While businesses have started bouncing back from the impacts of the coronavirus pandemic, several shocks have recently hit the global economy, such as the war in Ukraine, heightening inflation, and slowdown in growth, among others. Worse, as these risks continue clouding the outlooks, the possibility of another recession in 2023 is looming further.
In spite of these deepening uncertainties, however, several opportunities still rise for building a better and more inclusive future in a post-pandemic landscape. Thus, on top preparing to respond to future disruptions, businesses today can spot and grab opportunities to create system changes, start sectoral shifts, refocus economic plans, innovate business strategies, and maximize areas of growth and collaboration.
As it returns as a face-to-face event on Nov. 29 at Grand Hyatt Manila, the award-winning BusinessWorld Economic Forum will guide the Philippine business community in discovering areas where opportunities thrive.
Themed “Forecast 2023: Opportunity in Uncertainty,” this year’s Economic Forum will once again set the stage for top-notch speakers and experts to talk about the most relevant economic, sectoral, and business topics and issues with an audience composed of the country’s top decision-makers, policy makers, industry and business leaders, as well as investors, professionals, and entrepreneurs.
Grounding the day-long forum are keynotes from House of Representatives Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez on “Key Legislative Measures to Boost Philippine Businesses;” Krishna Srinivasan, director of IMF’s Asia Pacific Department, on the economic outlook for 2023; Finance Secretary Benjamin E. Diokno on “Sustaining Recovery through Mounting Risks;” and Neo Gim Huay, managing director of the Centre for Nature and Climate at the World Economic Forum, on “Transforming the World for the Better: Updates on the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.”
The panel discussions, meanwhile, will focus on the opportunities being brought to critical sectors of the Philippine economy.
The first panel discussion will bring together Mercedita A. Sombilla, Undersecretary for policy, planning, and regulations of the Department of Agriculture, and Bruce J. Tolentino, a private sector board member of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, to discuss the theme “Planting and Plating the Seeds of Growth: Boosting the Agriculture Sector and Ensuring Food Security” with BusinessWorld Editor-in-Chief Wilfredo G. Reyes.
“Powering the Future: The Philippines’ Roadmap to a Diverse and Sustainable Energy Industry” will be the theme of the second panel discussion. The panel will consist of Michael O. Sinocruz, director of the Department of Energy’s Energy Policy and Planning Bureau; James A. Villaroman, chief strategy officer of AboitizPower; Miguel de Jesus, executive director and head for commercial operations at AC Energy; and Oliver Y. Tan, president and chief executive officer (CEO) of Citicore Energy REIT Corp. BusinessWorld Sub-Editor Victor V. Saulon will moderate the panel.
Education will be the focus of the third panel as Epimaco V. Densing III, Undersecretary and chief-of-staff of the Department of Education; Ramon R. del Rosario, Jr., chairman of the Philippine Business for Education; Dr. Anthony Jose M. Tamayo, chairman of the coordinating council of the Private Educational Associations of the Philippines; and Dr. Maria Cynthia B. Bautista, vice-president for academic affairs at the University of the Philippines, are invited to delve on the topic “Education For All: Working Together Towards High-Quality and Inclusive Education.” BusinessWorld Columnist Marvin Tort will moderate the panel.
The last panel, comprising of Marvin Germo, CEO of Stock Smarts; Archieval B. Tolentino, president of Information Security Officers Group; Kristoffer Rada, head of public policy at TikTok Philippines; and Mariana Zobel de Ayala, consumer bank marketing and digital platforms head of the Bank of the Philippine Islands, will tackle the topic “Exploring the Digital Sphere: Embracing Technologies and Consumer Banking of the Future” with BusinessWorld Senior Reporter Arjay L. Balinbin.
Completing these weighty discussions are one-on-one fireside chats that will take a thorough look into particular trends that are shaping businesses and workforces at present.
In the first fireside chat, Sabin M. Aboitiz, head of the Private Sector Advisory Council, is invited to talk to BusinessWorld Columnist Andrew J. Masigan on the topic “Moving Forward Collaboratively: Strengthening Private-Public Partnerships.”
Makthar Diop, managing director of the International Finance Corp., will talk to One News Anchor Danie Laurel in the second fireside chat about “Growing the Green Movement: Opportunities in the Philippines’ Green Finance and Infrastructure Market.”
In the last fireside chat of the forum, Acumen Strategy Consultants President and CEO Pauline Fermin will talk to BusinessWorld Multimedia Editor Sam L. Marcelo on the topic “Responding to the Changing Skills Demand: Upskilling and Reskilling the Current and Future Workforce.”
Alongside these keynotes, discussions, and talks that are expected to provide fresh and valuable perspectives, the forum will also provide on-site networking opportunities for forum attendees to engage with each other, as well as with potential business partners and clients. Attendees can also expect booth exhibits from brand partners and sponsors.
This year, the BusinessWorld Economic Forum offers a regular rate of P4,900, plus value-added tax. Attendees who register on or before Nov. 5 will get a 30% discount, while students can avail of a 50% discount upon registration. In addition, attending organizations can get one complimentary seat for every three confirmed slots.
Interested attendees may register for this most-awaited annual gathering in the Philippine business community at www.bworldonline.com/bwefforecast2023/.
BusinessWorld Economic Forum 2022 is presented by BusinessWorld Publishing Corp., Ayala Corp., Megaworld Corp., PLDT, Smart, BDO, BPI, Globe, MERALCO, Metro Pacific Investments Corp., Wilcon Depot, Inc., First Gen Corp., GCash, and SGV & Company. Our partner organizations: American Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines, Asia Society of the Philippines, British Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines, French Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Philippines, European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines, Management Association of the Philippines, Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Philippine Franchise Association, Philippine Retailers Association; and our media partners: One News and The Philippine Star.
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