For the benefit of members this document outlines the planned regular programme for 2008. We have reverted to fixed dates published in advance for our regular Executive Forum meetings while maintaining flexibility in choice of speakers. All Executive Forum meetings will be held at the Manila Polo Club unless otherwise advised.
Dates for our CEO breakfasts or dinners will not be fixed but will depend both on issues that develop as well as availability of speakers.
Our event programme continues to evolve. For 2008 we plan, for the most part, to have dialogue with government or congressional leaders as part of our CEO offering. Our Executive Forums will be the venue for discussion of broader issues that may affect your corporate or personal “bottom line” and will generally be held on the third Thursday of each month (except for December meeting).
We will continue to publish our upcoming meetings in the Weekly Summary alongside regional meetings that may be of interest to our members.
| 1. |
Thursday 17th January | Looking back, moving forward |
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In our first meeting for the year we will be looking at where the Philippines has come from and where it is going in the year ahead. Drawing on the latest regional and global outlooks from the Economist Intelligence Unit, from our members and from our own research team, this event will also seek to identify key growth as well as choke points in the economy and discuss how companies can respond to the challenges ahead in order to sustain—and build—their profitability. |
| 2. |
Thursday 21st February | Fueling the future |
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This meeting will look at where fuel prices are going and the outlook for alternative fuels.
Should you be planting jatropha in your garden or window box or is all this a flash in the pan?
And if we are going to be using more biofuels, how real is the food crisis going to become as
prices of basic commodities increase. This meeting will look at these issues from both the
global and the local perspective. |
| 3. |
Thursday 13th March | Women in business |
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Traditionally—and to coincide with International Women’s Day—our March meeting looks at business from the perspective of “the other half of the sky”. With industry surveys showing that in the Philippines at least, there are more women than men at the top of the corporate tree, this meeting will tackle a business topic from a women’s perspective. Members are encouraged to bring along at least one female executive to this meeting. |
| 4. |
4. Thursday 17th April | China in Asia—Out of control? |
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This meeting will take a look at the rise of China and its growing economic, trade and political influence in Asia. With the advent of globalization and the rise of China as a major manufacturing and trading nation, China is destined to play a much greater role in the Philippines of the future. “We ain’t seen nothing yet.” |
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Do Chinese companies march to the beat of a different drum and if so, what is this doing to the competitive environment in which other multinationals operate? How will doing business in the Philippines (and elsewhere in the region) change as a result of the much more visible Chinese presence? |
| 5. |
5. Thursday 15th May | Going green—what it means for you and your business |
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With the debate about man’s contribution to climate change all but resolved, the calls for society to reduce its output of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases are going to intensify.”Going green” is the name of the game. Inevitably, business will increasingly be expected to shoulder the burden of improving the climate outlook. The legislative and policy framework surrounding carbon emissions and sustainability will become much tougher and more stringent. |
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In Asia, the picture is complicated because the region is still emerging, and much of its emergence will be dirty and energy-intensive. China, for example, is sitting on one trillion tonnes of coal, and is in the middle of an energy programme that aims to build 562 large new coal-fired power stations between 2005 and 2012—a rate of one new such power station opening every five days for a period of seven years. |
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That is good news if you build industrial generators but what does it all mean for business generally? Clearly there are large risks as regulations tighten and carbon commitments become more onerous. Equally, though, there are opportunities, not least to cut costs, to develop new low-carbon products and services, to build brands and reputations, and to create a more sustainable global economy. This meeting will look at how to become green. |
| 6. |
Thursday 19th June | Face-to-face—an open discussion with a leading CEO |
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This meeting will provide an opportunity to come face to face with a leading executive from a successful Filipino company. We will be asking what are the secrets of success in the Philippines and how international companies can best adapt to be successful in the local market? Join us for local insight. |
| 7. |
Thursday 17th July | Pirates of Poro Point?—A look into smuggling in the Philippines |
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The local petroleum industry estimates that as much as 40 percent of the gasoline sold in the Philippines enters the country illegally. But smuggling is not confined to gas nor the cars that run on them. Smuggling pervades much of our economic life and deprives the country of much needed customs revenue. The Fair Trade Alliance of the Philippines believes that the unchecked smuggling of goods from China and other countries has caused the loss of countless local jobs. In addition, these smugglers deprive the government annually of at least P175 billion, not P50 billion, of foregone revenues. |
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There have been a number of calls for strengthened laws against smuggling but they seem to be getting nowhere. This meeting will look at what has happened to the Anti-Smuggling Bill, filed in the 14th Congress as Senate Bill No. 106 and House Bill No. 15. (In the 13th Congress, the anti-smuggling bill passed the House but got stalled in the office of a pro-Administration Senator.) It will also seek to look into other issues surrounding the smuggling of goods and what needs to be done to level the playing field. |
| 8. |
Thursday 21st August | Software piracy—why then are software prices so high? |
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The use of licensed software, properly enforced creates a level playing field for companies competing in any market where services provided are software dependant. However as has been pointed out by several of our members, one of the issues we face in the Philippines is that major software vendors charge a much higher price for software here than in other countries of the region and elsewhere in the world. Furthermore financing companies are not prepared to finance software purchases since software is an intangible asset. |
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Given the economic status of the Philippines, the challenges faced with spiraling salaries in several industries and with the increasing value of the peso against the US dollar, it is increasingly difficult for Philippine-based companies to be globally competitive. Many companies simply cannot afford to buy the software they need without pricing themselves out of the market. The very limited financial support available for buying software means the cost cannot be deferred through long term financing. |
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The move to increase pressure on companies to use licensed software will only prove effective if the software vendors start charging internationally competitive rates for their software and if the industry body (the BSA) or the government offer financial support for the purchase of the software. Otherwise it will simply drive the companies out of business or further underground to avoid detection. This meeting will discuss this important issue from both sides. |
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And while we are at it, maybe we will look at the manner in which hardware vendors charge optimum prices in the Philippines as compared to other places while at the same time downgrading specs of their locally sold equipment. Interested? |
| 9. |
Thursday 18th September | Fast moving consumer goods |
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Is FMCG a misnomer in the Philippines? Should we be looking at SMCG (slow moving consumer goods) or even NCG (No consumer goods), given the oft times disconnect between supply and demand? Whatever happened to JIT (Just in time) logistics management? Why do goods disappear from store shelves for weeks or months at a time. What is the secret to retailing here in the Philippines? What sells and what is hard to sell? This meeting will look at retailing through different sets of eyes in an attempt to find common threads. |
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Importantly it will ask the question “Is there a fortune to be made at the bottom of the pyramid?” |
| 10. |
Thursday 16th October | Knowledge management |
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Many people believe that knowledge management is the hottest subject of the day. But how many of really understand what knowledge management is all about or why is it so important to each and every one of us? This meeting will look at the rise in the knowledge economy. Knowledge is not so much about data, rather it is about how that data is applied to protect and build the business—including information sharing. This meeting will discuss this important subject. |
| 11. |
Thursday 20th November | Taking charge of your life—managing career transitions |
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Not all of us remain in the corporate world (or in government) our entire life. Especially here in the Philippines we find many individuals who have chosen to jump off the treadmill and build their own careers as individuals. Some choose to work on their own as consultants while others start their own (usually small) businesses. In this session we will delve into the subject of career transitions and what you need to know before you decide to jump ship and row your own boat. |
| 12. |
Thursday 11th December | Special champagne breakfast | Fast cars |
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Our meeting year traditionally ends with a champagne breakfast for members at which we try to look at some lighter subject. For this coming year we have chosen to delve into the automotive world and look at how cars are evolving with literally a mind of their own. If you are planning to purchase a vehicle in the New Year, or even if you are just plain curious, come along and find out what is hot and what is not. |
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Alternative strategies on loss prevention
BGen Joseph Medina (USMG ret.) Sponsored by BPI |
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Typically in these sessions, participants from a cross-section of industries such as
pharmaceuticals, supply chain, mining, call centre, manufacturing and semi-conductors share
their insights and experiences on traditional as well as alternative loss prevention methods. |
| The makings of an entrepreneur (single session—3 speakers) |
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A session with three individuals who have become successful in small business in the
Philippines and a look at the factors that have contributed to their success. |
Embracing excellence
Franco del Rosario – Six Sigma Consulting |
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Training guru Franco del Rosario will explain how the “culture” of a corporation is an
essential part of training and retaining talented people and provide insights into what factors
motivate people to continue to give of their best. |
Customer care in the Philippines
Dr. David Freemantle |
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“Our business would be great if we only didn’t have to deal with our customers.” Fact or
fiction? Sadly while some companies excel at providing customer service (and satisfaction)
others suck at it. Dr. David Freemantle is one of the world’s leading experts in leadership
motivation and delivering world-class customer relations. UK-based and now living much of
the time in the Philippines, David continues to work throughout the world in sensitizing
companies and individuals as to their true potential. This workshop will provide some
tantalizing insights into what it takes to become world-class (hint: even small companies can
do it.) |
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