ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT OF WOMEN THROUGH WEBINAR ON INVESTMENT, TAX AND DOING BUSINESS IN THE PHILIPPINES
A screenshot of some of the participants and speakers of the Investment, Tax and Doing Business in the Philippines webinar
To empower migrant Filipino women in Germany and encourage them to participate in economic activities , a webinar on Investment , Tax and Doing Business in the Philippines was held on Saturday, 25 March 2023.
In her welcome remarks, Ambassador-designate Irene Susan Natividad said that while the World Economic Forum’s 2022 Global Gender Gap Report cites the Philippines as among the top 20 countries that have taken measures to close the gender gap, more needs to be done to encourage greater participation of women in economic activities. Research shows that skills gap, wage gap, care work, and societal norms continue to be stumbling blocks for the greater economic empowerment of women in the Philippines. She expressed hope that the webinar will be able to provide participants, especially Filipino women in Germany, with information on economic opportunities and access to resources .
The main speaker, Mr. Mon Abrea, Founding Chair and Chief Tax Advisor of the Asian Consulting Group and trustee of the Center for Strategic Reforms of the Philippines, spoke about the Philippines’ economic overview and forecast and investment vehicles in the Philippines, including those with tax exemptions.
Mr. Chris Lim, president of the Philippine Franchise Association and franchise matching company U-Franchise, provided insights on the business franchise model and presented franchising opportunities in the Philippines.
Left Photo (Clockwise): Ms. Patricia Villasenor of Kape de Filipina, Mr. Chris Lim of U-Franchise, Atty. Arianne Reyes of UP Alumni Association, Mr. Mon Abrea of the Asian Consulting Group.
Ms. Patricia Villaseñor, owner and managing director of Berlin-based company Kape de Filipina, walked the audience through her journey as an entrepreneur. Ms. Villasenor champions Philippine coffee and chocolates in Europe, with the goal of bringing the Philippines back on the global coffee map.
The webinar was in line with the Philippines’ National Women’s Month celebration and the Trabaho Negosyo Kabuhayan Program of the Department of Trade and Industry and the Department of Labor and Employment. It was organized by the Philippine Embassy in Germany, in partnership with the Asian Consulting Group, the Center for Strategic Reforms of the Philippines, Philippine Consulate General in Frankfurt, the Philippine Trade and Investment Center and the Migrant Workers’ Office in Berlin, the UP Alumni Association and the Ateneo Leadership and Social Entrepreneurship group.
There are 32,245 Filipinos in Germany. Around 75% of this figure, or 24,575 are female.
