DTI’s Undersecretary for the Industry Development and Trade Policy Group Ceferino S. Rodolfo visited Berlin and Nuremberg on 23-24 September 2019 for a series of engagements with German industry. Usec Rodolfo was accompanied by Director Evariste Cagatan of the Board of Investments (BOI), OIC Lanie Dormiendo of BOI’s International Investments Promotion Service (IIPS), Mr Steve Recto of BOI’s Industry Group, and Mr Mykell Jizen Reyes of BOI-IIPS. His program was organized by PTIC-Berlin, headed by Commercial Counselor Althea Karen Antonio, in coordination with Berlin PE.

In Berlin, Usec Rodolfo met with Mr Volker Thum, General Manager of the German Aerospace Industries Association (BDLI) regarding the Philippines’ interest to become a bigger aerospace parts player. He also met with Mr Harald Zimmer of the Association of Research-Based Pharmaceutical Companies (VFA), Mr Tobias Helmstorf of Bayer, and Dr Gregor Strauch of Boehringer Ingelheim to discuss possible cooperation in enhancing Filipinos’ access to medicine.

He then presided over a Philippine Business Roundtable Discussion which PTIC-Berlin co-organized with the German Asia Pacific Association (OAV) and the Chamber of Commerce (IHK) Berlin at the Philippine Embassy. The activity was moderated by OAV Managing Director Ms Almut Rossner and Mr Jan Ijspeert of IHK-Berlin.

Ambassador Ma. Theresa B. Dizon-De Vega delivered the welcome remarks, where she highlighted the importance attached by the Philippines to its economic ties with Germany, as shown by the fact that Usec Rodolfo’s visit is the 7th high-level visit by a Philippine official this year. She further noted that apart from the trade between the two countries and German investments in the Philippines, Filipino companies are also discovering Germany as an investment destination.

After Berlin, Usec Rodolof and his delegation from the Philippines, accompanied by Ambassador Dizon-De Vega and Ms Antonio, traveled to Nuremberg for a site visit to Via Optronics, in which Ayala’s AC Industrials holds majority shares. They also had a meeting with Mr Armin Siegert of Nuremberg’s Chamber of Commerce (IHK Nuremberg), which has been a partner of PTIC-Berlin and the Embassy in promoting Philippine-German economic cooperation in Bavaria, including through the Asia Pacific Forum Bayern. (END)

DTI Undersecretary Ceferino S. Rodolfo and Parliamentary State Secretary (PSS) Thomas Bareiss of the Federal Ministry of Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWi) today signed the Joint Declaration of Intent Establishing the PH-DE Joint Economic Commission (JDI-JEC) at a simple ceremony at the BMWi headquarters in Berlin.

Usec Rodolfo was joined by Ambassador Ma. Theresa B. Dizon-De Vega, Deputy Chief of Mission Lillibeth V. Pono, Economic Officer Cathy Torres, Commercial Counselor Althea Antonio and her team at PTIC-Berlin, and Ms Patrisha Estrella, Trade and Industry Specialist at DTI’s Bureau of International Trade Relations (BITR).

“The JEC provides an important platform to build on the momentum of more dynamic economic engagement between the Philippines and Germany as well as promoting greater synergy between our respective private sectors,” Ambassador Dizon-De Vega said. END