April 28 – The Makati Business Club hosted a high-level breakfast meeting with a business delegation from Indonesia headed by Rosan Roeslani, Chairman of the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KADIN Indonesia). Guest speakers included His Excellency Thomas Lembong, Chairman of the Indonesian Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM), and Hon. Iman Pambagyo, Director General for International Trade of the Indonesian Ministry of Trade.
Alongside the celebration of the 50th year since establishment of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), 2017 also marks 68 years of bilateral relations between the Philippines and Indonesia, which was established in November 24, 1949.
H.E. Lembong, who also served as the Indonesian Minister of Trade from August 2015 to July 2016, urged attendees to continue regional cooperation to boost trade and investment activities in the region: “We need more of our companies to go trans-national and regional, and the reason is simple – we need more scale companies in the ASEAN.”
H.E. Thomas Lembong, Chairman of the Indonesia Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM).
Hon. Iman Pambagyo, quoting the ASEAN Summit’s theme of “Partnering for change, engaging the world,” commended the Philippine and Indonesian business delegates present for their effort to continuously collaborate, as shown by the signing of Memoranda of Agreement between companies from the two countries.
Hon. Iman Pambagyo, Director General for International Trade of the Ministry of Trade, Republic of Indonesia.
Before the formal opening of the meeting, five Philippine companies signed Memoranda of Agreement with 11 Indonesian partners, signifying the intent to further boost trade and investment between the Philippines and Indonesia. MBC, the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry, KADIN Indonesia, and key representatives from the Philippine and Indonesian governments witnessed the signing.
Highlighting shared ties between the Philippines and Indonesia, MBC Trustee Aurelio Montinola III stated in his Welcome Remarks, “Overall, the Philippines and Indonesia stand on firm foundations. Given the many challenges facing the global community, we draw comfort and confidence in the enduring friendship between our two nations. The Makati Business Club, in particular, in the interest of furthering its mission to be a forum for constructive ideas, has continued fostering relations not only between the private sector and the government in the Philippines, but also among businesses here and abroad, as highlighted by this morning’s signing of MOUs between businesses in Indonesia and the Philippines.”
Signing of Memoranda of Agreement (MOUs) between Philippine and Indonesian Companies. (L-R, standing) Director General Pambagyo, Shinta Kamdani (KADIN Indonesia Vice-Chairman for International Relations), Rosan Roeslani (KADIN Indonesia Chairman), Ambassador Ma. Lumen Isleta (PH Ambassador to Indonesia), Aurelio Montinola III (MBC Trustee), George Barcelon (PCCI President), Hon. Thomas Lembong.
Philippine companies who signed MOUs with their Indonesian counterparts include: Liwayway Marketing Corp. (with Masipon), Manila Water (with Copta Usahasentos), Century Properties (with Bakrie, Garupaprima, and AYLA Associate), Zeus Corporation / Compact Pharmaceuticals (with Kapal Api Group, Kalbe Farma, and Kalbe Int’l), and SM Hypermarket (with Alfamart, PT Atri Disrtibu, and OMEGA Group).
The meeting was organized in partnership with KADIN Indonesia and the Philippine Business Club Indonesia.