BUT ELECTION KILLINGS UNACCEPTABLE
Business ‘happier’: AmCham, et. al.

"Happier and more content this year" businessmen are hiring, investing and expanding in the Philippines, according to American Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines executive director Robert Sears.

He however cautioned that unless the official proclamation of the results of the election is done at once, business could not move forward.

"We have to put it behind us and move on," said Sears, expressing grave personal concern over the number of killings in the runup to the elections.

"We are worried about the killings. This is not acceptable. The image of the Philippines is not as good as it should be," he said.

On questions if business is worried over the composition of the new Congress, Sears said whoever gets elected as long as the reforms continue, the members of the Joint Foreign Chambers would help promote Filipino business.

"We will work with them regardless of their political (affiliation)," he said.

In a press conference announcing the first-ever chambers-sponsored Global Employment Expo scheduled June 4 to 5 in Glorietta, European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines executive vice president Henry Schumacher said the fact that the event is pushing through right after the elections is an indication of optimism over the economy.

"The door is wide open. The Philippine economy is doing well and a lot are expanding so we need more employment. Yes, we are positive, and the macroeconomic picture is good. Let’s move forward," Schumacher said.

But he noted that while the short-term effects of the elections is something to worried about, the long-term view is that the Philippines needs be competitive.

"The Philippines is not only the country in Asia that attracts foreign direct investments (FDIs) and the Philippines is not as competitive. That is why we are working with the National Competitiveness Council and Task Force on Anti-Red Tape to change those things. If we succeed in this, we will have more FDIs and will have more employment" Schumacher said.

Michael Whiting, vice president of the British Chamber of Commerce for his part said: "Good things are going in the positive direction but we need to carry on avoid complacency."

Chris Ward, vice president of the Australian-New Zealand Chamber of Commerce for his part added: "Business continues no matter what. We don’t look at governments as being on side or another. "

Whiting said business needs to stay positive as there is great opportunity as well as challenges to deal with. "If the economy gets better, less people leave the country as we (investors) create more jobs," he said, noting that the country has been facing a brain drain for the longest time.

Ward said companies in the Philippines have a difficulty finding the right people with the right skills.

Schumacher reiterated the need for Filipinos to polish their English skills as our capability has dwindled enormously in the last 20 years.

Some 59 companies from the British Chamber, Amcham, ECCP, the Canadian Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines and the ANZCham are participating in the Expo, a venue to promote various career options from call centers and other ICT services, medical tourism, hospitality, health and wellness and retirement.