Kopi talk The seven top winners for investment ion Philippine

With the new administration coming in, it is an appropriate time to remind government officials of the seven major investment areas that were identified by the Joint Foreign Chambers of Commerce of the Philippines last April. They are: Agricultural businesses, Business Process Outsourcing (BPO), creative industries, manufacturing, infrastructure, mining, and tourism.

According to the Philippine and foreign chambers of commerce, agribusiness can be enhanced by expanding agriculture education and training programs, lowering the costs of fertilizer and insecticides, and introducing new technology. They also suggest speeding up the distribution of land under CARP so that the program could be phased out within five years.

BPO has already been a star performer in the Philippines, which is now second only to India. It employs 450,000 workers and has provided P7 billion in revenue. The joint chambers recommended that colleges prepare students for BPO careers.

The creative industries include motion pictures, advertising, and architecture. The chambers advise that since English is required in most of the creative business, there should be a national program for gions of the archipelago. Tourism, the Joint Chambers remind us, is an important vehicle for poverty reduction, offering nationwide job opportunities as more visitors arrive and visit different provinces.

The study does suggest eliminating the carrier tax and the billing tax on foreign airlines to encourage more travel. Long-term tourism and retirement plans are being offered through the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority. The Philippines has recently introduced a Long Stay Visitor visa which gives potential retirees from three to six months to look over the country before making a final decision. As the vice president of the European Chambers of Commerce, Henry Schumacher, pointed out, Asia looks like paradise against the background of rising medical costs in Europe.
Agricultural Competitiveness: Market Forces and Policy Choice : Proceedings of the Twenty-Second International Conference of Agricultural Economists Held at Harare, Zimbabwe (Iaae)
Philippines Agricultural Sector Business Opportunities Handbook (World Business, Investment and Government Library)

Specialty agricultural chemicals (Business opportunity report)

Kopi talk - “Everything has its beauty, but not everyone sees it”

Although the Philippines raised the specter of international terrorists, kidnapping of foreigner operating in their soil and despite of all this activities they also surge of interest in charity humanitarian event to rebuild and improved life in the four corner of Philippine by local and foreign firm. “Everything has its beauty, but not everyone sees it”
GK volunteers help build homes for Palau'an families in Rio Tuba

Last Holy Week, around 700 Filipino and foreign volunteers with the humanitarian organization Gawad Kalinga helped build houses for 50 families of the Palau'an tribe in Rio Tuba, Palawan. Documentary photographer Rick Rocamora produced this audio slideshow featuring an interview with Gawad Kalinga founder and president Tony Meloto.

Gawad Kalinga has partnered with companies Rio Tuba Nickel Mining Corporation and Coral Bay Nickel Corporation to build 1000 houses for Palau'an families in Rio Tuba over the next ten years.

Meloto says: "The goal is not just to build a thriving community for those working directly in the mining site but to take responsibility for the environment and for the people who live in that environment."

Kopi Talk - Who The richest Filipiano

Given enough coffee, I could rule the world. -

MANILA, Philippines — Mall magnate Henry Sy remains the richest Filipino, according to the latest list by Forbes magazine, which was posted on its website on Aug. 25. The 84-year-old tycoon has a net worth of $3.8 billion. Forbes cited the increase in the stock price of SM Investments since December, as well as the increase in net income of the group’s interests in malls, retail, property in the first half of 2009.

Following Sy is tobacco king Lucio Tan, 75, with a net worth of $1.7 billion. Tan owns the national flag carrier Philippine Airlines and has interests in beer brewing and mining.

Jaime Zobel de Ayala, 75, chairman emeritus of Ayala Corp., one of the country’s largest conglomerates, is third with a net worth of $1.2 billion.

Andrew Tan of the Alliance Global Group, owner of the country’s McDonald’s franchise, is fourth with a net worth of $850 million.

John Gokongwei, founder of JG Summit, a conglomerate with interests in airlines, telecoms, power, banking and real estate, and owner of Robinsons department stores, is fifth with $720 million.

Tony Tan Caktiong of Jollibee Foods is sixth with $710 million, while Eduardo Cojuangco Jr., chief executive of Southeast Asia’s largest food and beverage conglomerate, San Miguel Corp., is seventh with $660 million.

Enrique Razon, chair and president of International Container Terminal Services Inc. (ICTSI), the largest corporation in the country engaged in the handling of container and bulk cargoes, is eighth with $620 million. Razon also has an interest in Monte Oro Grid Resources Inc., a leading member of a consortium which in 2007 won a 25-year franchise to operate the national grid system of National Transmission Corp.

Sen. Manuel Villar, who is eyeing the presidency in 2010, is ninth with $530 million. Villar is also the largest shareholder in property firms Vista Land & Lifescapes and Polar Property Holding.

Rounding the top 10 is Metrobank founder George Ty with $515 million.

Also making it to the top 40 are:

Emilio Yap ($510 M), Inigo and Mercedes Zobel ($440 M), Beatrice Campos ($410 M), Vivian Que Azcona ($390 M), Oscar Lopez ($350 M), Andrew Gotianun ($310 M), David Consunji ($300 M), Robert Coyiuto Jr. ($290 M), Alfonso Yuchengco ($230 M), Mariano Tan ($180 M).

Menardo Jimenez ($160 M), Gilberto M. Duavit ($159 M), Felipe Gozon ($135 M), Jon Ramon Aboitiz ($125 M), Betty Ang ($120 M), Alfredo Ramos ($115 M), Manuel Zamora Jr. ($110 M), Bienvenido R. Tantoco Sr. ($90 M), Tomas Alcantara ($75 M), Benjamin Romualdez ($70 M).

Wilfred Uytengsu Sr. ($65 M), Lourdes Montinola ($60 M), Luis Virata ($56 M), Eugenio Lopez III ($55 M), Enrique Aboitiz ($53 M), Philip Ang ($50 M), Jesus Tambunting ($45 M), Frederick Dy ($40 M), Rolando and Rosalinda Hortaleza ($39 M) and Marian Rosario Fong ($38 M).

Extract from Inquirer net