You are cordially invited to a Zoom-based business dialogue celebrating 75 years of Philippines – United States Business Relations entitled, “Cooperation for Post-Pandemic Recovery” on 21 June 2021 (Monday), 4:30PM- 5:30PM (PDT) / 7:30PM-8:30PM (EDT).
The Philippine Department of Trade and Industry and the US Department of Commerce will share the importance of bilateral cooperation and how the relationship provides employment, transfer of technology, and economic development on both sides.
Hear from the private sector representatives about their experiences in operating their businesses in both countries, the challenges, opportunities, and prospects for the future. We will also explore how both countries can support each other through economic collaboration to help in the world’s post-pandemic recovery.
| Featured Speakers |
 Ramon M. Lopez is the Secretary of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI). His extensive government experience with the Presidential Management Staff (PMS), DTI, and the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) in the early part of his career provided him with a solid background on macroeconomic and industry development that allowed him to adopt a more holistic trade approach when he moved to the private sector and became a top executive of a major Philippine food and beverage company for over 23 years. |
 Diane Farrell is the Acting Under Secretary and the Deputy Under Secretary for International Trade. In these roles, she plans, determines, and coordinates policy; and directs the International Trade Administration. She most recently served as the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Asia, where she was the principal advisor to the Assistant Secretary for Global Markets on all matters concerning international economics, trade, investment, and commercial policy programs and agreements with respect to Asia. In this role, she also oversaw planning and execution of Commerce commercial diplomacy and export promotion strategies at United States Missions in Region Asia.  Ceferino S. Rodolfo is the Undersecretary for the Industry Development and Trade Policy Group of the Department of Trade & Industry. He has been leading the crafting and implementation of the Philippine industrial policy and international trade negotiation agenda, as well as the Philippine government’s bilateral trade and investment engagements with key partner economies. Notable among his accomplishments are the successful negotiation of the Philippines-European Free Trade Association Free Trade Agreement (PH-EFTA FTA) – the only signed bilateral FTA of the country other than that with Japan – and the Philippines’ application to the EU GSP+ Program.  Charles Freeman, is the Senior Vice President for Asia at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. He has been helping companies navigate complex markets in the Asia-Pacific for 25 years. His career included senior stints in government, business, law, and academia, giving him a unique perspective on the challenges and opportunities in the world’s most dynamic region. |
 Coco Alcuaz is the Executive Director of Makati Business Club. He was previously the bureau chief at Bloomberg News, business news head at ABS-CBN News Channel, and contributor at Rappler. |
 Ernesto Tanmantiong is the President and Chief Executive Officer of Jollibee Foods Corporation (Jollibee Group), one of the world’s fastest-growing Asian food service companies. It is present in 33 countries, with over 5,800 stores across 16 brands—from Jollibee, Chowking, Greenwich, Red Ribbon, Mang Inasal, Burger King, and Panda Express in the Philippines; Yonghe King, Hong Zhuang Yuan, and Dunkin Donuts in China; Tim Ho Wan from Hong Kong PRC; Highlands Coffee and PHO24 from Vietnam; and Smashburger, Tortazo, and Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf from the United States. |
 Ramon Ang, as President and Chief Operating Officer of San Miguel Corporation (SMC), engineered the transformation of one of the Philippines’ oldest companies, into one of the largest and most diversified conglomerates in the Philippines today. He is the only Filipino yet to make it on The Bloomberg 50, a list of global icons and innovators comprising some of the world’s most influential thought leaders in various fields, from business, finance, politics, science and technology to entertainment. |
 Hassane El-Khoury serves as a Director of ON Semiconductor Corporation and is President and Chief Executive Officer of ON Semiconductor and Semiconductor Components Industries, LLC since December 2020. He is a seasoned professional with over twenty years of experience in the technology sector. His career has fostered a deep understanding of customer and design requirements in the automotive and industrial markets, as well as a systems-level understanding to form integrated customer solutions and business strategy to drive results. |
 Chris Caldwell, President of ConcentrixTM Corporation, has grown Concentrix from 25 staff to more than 225,000 team members located around the world at 275 sites in 40 countries with an annual revenue of close to $4.7 billion. Chris has been recognized by peers, clients and the industry. He has won multiple awards for innovation, entrepreneurship and leadership including The Young Entrepreneur Award from Business Development Bank Canada at age 20 and the Top 40 Under 40 CEOs for Canada. In addition to the many accolades, Chris has served on numerous boards in a variety of global business service organizations including: HiChina Web Services, Digital Internet Group, Microland and SB Pacific. |