Canadian firms interested in PPP, BPO
ASEAN, PHILIPPINES, May 9, 2015, Source
Some Canadian companies are interested in pouring in investments to the Philippines in the areas of public-private partnership (PPP) projects and business process outsourcing (BPO).
President Aquino secured these investor interests on the first day of his three-day state visit to Canada aimed at forging closer diplomatic and economic ties between the two nations.
OFFICIAL RIDE (Reuters) — President Aquino enjoys his ride on a carriage as he arrives for the official welcoming ceremony at Rideau Hall in Ottawa, Canada, on Thursday (yesterday in Manila).
Coming from the United States, the President flew to Ottawa on Friday and immediately held talks with Canada’s Governor General David Johnston at his official residence Rideau Hall. Aquino is also scheduled to hold a meeting with Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper late Friday night.
President Aquino planted a red spruce, commonly used for Christmas tree, on the grounds of Rideau Hall just a few meters away from the maple tree planted by the late President Corazon Aquino in 1989 to mark the start of his three-day state visit to Canada.
“The Governor-General expressed interest in the possible participation of Canadian companies in public-private partnerships,” Presidential Communications Operations Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said in a statement.
“The Governor-General expressed interest in the further development of the Philippines as a center for off-shoring of communication services and for business process outsourcing,” he added.
Coloma said Johnston was impressed with the Aquino government’s “great strides” to boost the country’s economic growth during the “cordial meeting” with the President.
He said the President attributed the country’s economic resurgence to good governance initiated by his administration.
“The President cited the significant gains from ‘doing the right things right’ in infrastructure development as well as in poverty reduction and social amelioration,” Coloma said.
“He talked about the paradigm shift in directly providing cash benefits to the poorest families to ensure that children and youth stay in school and become productive citizens, as well as programs to clear backlogs in classrooms and textbooks and in propagating universal health care coverage,” Coloma added.
In the same meeting with Johnston, the President thanked the government and people of Canada for their assistance when the country was hit by super-typhoon “Yolanda” two years ago.
Coloma said the President also cited Canada’s contribution to the advancement of the peace process in Mindanao.
“He lauded Canada’s National Research Council for its scientific and technological breakthroughs including those in acoustics and sound technology, that he himself has seen being a music-oriented person,” Coloma said.
He said the two leaders also exchanged notes on the promotion of small and medium enterprises which Canada has also vigorously supported.
Trade Secretary Gregory Domingo shared the country’s experience in setting up roving academies and training workshops as well as setting up shared facilities for start-up enterprises such as coffee, coconut, and loom weaving industries.
Other Philippine officials present in the meeting were Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima, Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz, Cabinet Secretary Rene Almendras, Socio-Economic Planning Secretary Arsenio Balisacan, Presidential Management Staff chief Secretary Julia Abad, Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Laura del Rosario, and Philippine Ambassador to Canada Petronila Garcia.
Johnston was accompanied by his wife Sharon, Deputy Secretary Patricia Jaton, and Canadian Ambassador to the Philippines Neil Reeder during the meeting with the visiting Philippine leader.
Courtesy of Manila Bulletin