MCCI gathers powerhouse speakers for its Business Summit 2023

 CEBU CITY – The Mandaue Camber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI) gathered a set of powerhouse speakers for its Business Summit 2023 at Marco Polo Plaza, Cebu on August 23 with the theme, “Empowering Business for The New Era” led by its keynote speaker, Ambassador of Sweden to the Philippines, Amb. Annika Thunborg with her presentation on “Sustainability in the Circular Economy.”

MCCI president, Kellie Ko welcomed to the summit more than 200 business leaders from Mandaue including the speakers and the 25 new members for a learning event where topics on new ideas, new business paradigms and technological developments in the local and global business were presented.

Ko said, this event highlights the role of the business community to lead and guide the directions of how business adopts to the changes and advancement of principles and strategies in the global market, especially in the advent of digitalization, artificial intelligence and other business innovations.

Mandaue Mayor Jonas Cortes, in his inspirational message emphasized the need for the business sector to adopt to the digitalization and recognize that “we stand in a new era and it is imperative that we rise to innovation.”

“If we want change to happen in our lives, it must come from within.  Attitude is key in any change to happen in the community.  Let us consider problems and challenges as opportunities and we could not get to greater height without you guys at the MCCI helping us,” Cortes commended MCCI for the activity, making a difference in the business community.

Cortes added that as Mandaue embraces the new era, “let us acknowledge the changes and together, let us move forward and be proud to say that Mandaue is or home, our future!”

The Speakers

Ambassador Annika Thunborg, Ambassador of Sweden to the Philippines with her keynote speech on Sustainability in the Circular Economy, presented Sweden’s vision of a sustainable, accessible and safe transport system for all.

Thunborg said that has chosen some priorities in taking care of the planet for a circular economy to be sustainable.  Safe and secure borders need a green transition for security which Sweden undertook this journey since 2012.

Thunborg stressed that public policy measures for safe and secure environment requires a quadruple helix sector collaboration among government, academia, business and the public for more concrete steps for sustainability.

Economist and Licensed Environmental Planner Ronilo Balbieran spoke on the “Philippine MacroEconomics Updates.”  He began his presentation with the World Economic Outlook that is uncertain again amid financial sector turmoil, high inflation, ongoing effects of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and three years of COVID.

“In 2020, the whole world was most sure that we were not sure what will happen in the future.  More than twice the uncertainty we had during the Global Recession in 2009,” Balbieran said.

He went on that the International Monetary Fund (IMF) hikes PH growth outlook for 2023 to six percent as global growth was projected to fall from an estimated 3.5 percent in 2022 to 3.0 percent in both 2023 and 2024.  While the forecast for 2023 is modestly higher than predicted in the April 2023 World Economic Outlook (WEO), it remains weak by historical standards, Balbieran said.

“The advantage of the Philippines includes its population that is large, young, still growing, English-speaking and tech-savvy.  Liquidity, we have large additional income from abroad and fiscal prudence.  The Philippines has three trillion in excess savings,” Balbieran noted.

PH’s third advantage is its resources, of 7,000++ paradise islands for tourism, abundant sources of food, mineral and energy.  The fourth advantage is the country’s location, it is the most strategic location in the Asia-Pacific Region, equidistant to most Asian countries, he added.

“The fifth, is that the Philippines is #1 users of internet and social media in the world. Fastest at 93 percent e-commerce growth in South East Asia in 2021; 23 percent in 2022 and 25 percent in the next three years,” Balbieran said.

In summary, the Philippine economy was okay, more than okay than other countries before COVID-19, during COVID-19 in 2020-2022 and in 2023 and beyond, Balbieran concluded.

Other speakers included Sarah Matthews, a digital marketing and strategy expert on the topic, “Digital Makeover: Enhancing Online Reputation in the Travel Industry in a Post-Pandemic World.” Matthews’ expertise in leveraging big data analytics to drive greater effectiveness and efficiency has been applied in both the government sector and corporate environment.

She has also been an advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion in marketing, serving as the Chair of the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) and on the regional board of Interactive Advertising Bureau for Southeast Asia and India.

Arun Gogna, a national and international motivational speaker talked on the “Soul at Work”, the truths about work.  Designed specifically for employees, this event aims to bring out the best of the best by creating better workers, thinkers and team players.

Prof. Christopher Monterola, Aboitiz chair in Data Science and Head, Aboitiz School of Innovation, Technology and Entrepreneurship and Executive Managing Director, ACCESS@AIM, discussed about “Disruptive Technologies-Anticipating Impact on Markets and Companies.”

About the MCCI

The MCCI Business Summit 2023 was one of the highlights of the annual Mandaue Business Month (MBM).  MCCI is committed to promoting and supporting local businesses in Mandaue City. As a member of the MCCI there is access to a wide range of resources and opportunities. The organization provides valuable networking events, educational workshops, and advocacy efforts that are designed to help your business thrive.

By joining MCCI, one will also have the chance to connect with other local business leaders who share commitment to growing the Mandaue business community; exchange ideas, collaborate on projects, and build relationships that will help achieve goals of the business sector.