PHILIPPINE CONSULATE GENERAL IN SAN FRANCISCO PARTICIPATES IN 2025 EAST BAY GLOBAL FORUM TO STRENGTHEN INNOVATION AND TRADE LINKS
From left: Stephen Baiter, Executive Director of East Bay EDA, Consul General Neil Ferrer, and Mr. Rod Hirsch at the sidelines of the 2025 East Bay Global Forum held on 11 September 2025 at Berkeley, California (San Francisco PCG photo)
BERKELEY, CALIFORNIA – The Philippine Consulate General in San Francisco, represented by Consul General Neil Frank Ferrer, participated in the 2025 East Bay Global Forum held on 11 September 2025 at Berkeley, California. Consul General Ferrer was joined at the event by Consul Rowena Pangilinan-Daquipil and Trade Commissioner Anne Marie Kristine Umali.
Organized annually by the East Bay Economic Development Alliance (East Bay EDA), the Forum brings together leaders from business, government, and the diplomatic corps to foster international trade, innovation, and economic development in the East Bay region of Northern California. The 2025 Forum focused on international collaboration, innovation ecosystems, and emerging opportunities in biotechnology, energy, AI, and advanced manufacturing.
East Bay EDA Chair Candace Anderson, Chair of the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors, opened the event and shared the unique role of East Bay EDA in supporting businesses, entrepreneurs, and enhancing the economic environment of the region.
In her welcome remarks, Berkeley Mayor Adena Ishii highlighted the city’s commitment to inclusive innovation, while Cristina Oh of Sutter Health announced over $1 billion in healthcare investments in the East Bay, signaling continued regional growth and partnership potential.
A keynote presentation by Ms. Caroline Linnette, Executive Director of Berkeley SkyDeck, underscored the accelerator’s role in supporting global startups and the increasing number of international applicants—including from Asia—seeking entry into the East Bay’s world-renowned innovation ecosystem.
The panel discussion, which featured executives from Amber Kinetics, Bayer, Ripcord, and AVEVA, showcased the East Bay’s strengths in research and development, workforce readiness, and international market integration. Notably, Amber Kinetics emphasized its ongoing manufacturing operations in the Philippines, underscoring the country’s strategic role in the company’s global supply chain.
“The Philippine Consulate General welcomes the opportunity to engage with government, business and innovation leaders in the East Bay and explore areas of synergy that support our shared goals in economic development, sustainability, and technological advancement,” said Consul General Ferrer. “The mention of the Philippines as a key manufacturing base for an energy technology company is a clear affirmation of our country’s value as a trade and investment partner.”
The Philippine delegation reaffirmed the Consulate’s commitment to fostering bilateral cooperation between the Philippines and the East Bay region, especially in sectors such as clean energy, biotechnology, software development, and advanced manufacturing.
The participation in the East Bay Global Forum forms part of the Consulate’s broader efforts to promote trade and investment between the Philippines and the United States, particularly within the San Francisco Bay Area, which remains a vital hub for innovation, talent, and economic partnership. END
Top left photo: Consul General Neil Ferrer poses with Mr. Fabrice Glorieux, Global Chief Operating Officer, Amber Kinetics. Top right photo: Consul General Neil Ferrer and San Leandro Mayor Juan González III pose at the sidelines of the 2025 East Bay Global Forum. (San Francisco PCG photos)
Below photo: Audience listen to East Bay EDA Chair Candace Anderson, Chair of the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors. (Photo courtesy of East Bay EDA)
