Guest speaker

Martial Beck, Vice-President & General Manager, European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (ECCP)

Walter van Hattum, Head, Trade and Economic Section (Counselor), EU Delegation to the Philippines

台灣台北市大安區敦化南路二段201號

Trade between the EU and the Philippines is still at relatively low levels but seems to be entering a more dynamic phase. In the last two years EU exports to the Philippines increased by almost 40% and the EU is the largest investor in the country (accounting for 30%). Ongoing reform measures, middle class growth and increased government expenditure in the Philippines, coupled with a constructive engagement of the government on ways to expand trade and investment with the EU and the entering into force of the new EU Generalised System of Preferences (GSP), could provide for interesting new business opportunities.

At this special event, the speakers will give an honest assessment of where the Philippines is heading and give some insights into concrete opportunities that might bring for European investors and traders. Guests will also be given an introduction to the ECCT's sister chamber in the Philippines, the ECCP, which, like the ECCT, is part of the Worldwide Network of European Business Organisations (EBO).

Martial Beck, a French national, has been living in the Philippines since 1997. He worked for two years as a business development consultant with the ECCP, before managing a Manila-based German company, then a Manila-based Dutch company, for five years respectively. Both European companies were supplying the food-processing industry. In 2008 he co-founded a renewable energy company, NOVERGY Inc., mainly promoting biomass and solar power in the Philippines. He joined the ECCP in July 2012 as Vice-President & General Manager and has, since January 2014, also been the Project Director of the EU-Philippines Business Network.

Walter van Hattum has been the Head of the Trade and Economic Section (Counselor) for the EU Delegation to the Philippines since 2013. In this position he is responsible for managing trade relations between the EU and the Philippines. Before joining the European Commission in 2004 he worked for Oxfam Novib, the International Labour Organization and as a diplomat in the Dutch Foreign Service in areas of trade and development. Besides the Philippines and Europe, he has worked elsewhere in Asia (Thailand, Indonesia), Latin America (Cuba) and Africa (Nigeria and Ghana). He holds MAs in Political Economy and Development as well as an MBA.

NT$1,300 for members; NT$1,900 for members' guest(s)

To cancel without penalty, written cancellations must be received 24 hours prior to the event.
Contact: Fiona Lee / Tel 2740-0236 ext. 215 / fiona.lee@ecct.com.tw / www.ecct.com.tw