The Nordic Business Council of the Philippines (NBCP) said the growing number of European business chambers is a sign of increased interests in the country.

Speaking on the sidelines of the annual Northern Lights Dinner in Makati City, NBCP President Bo Lundqvist said European chambers reflect Europe and its diversity.

"We are good at cooperating with each other. We work together with the European Union. There are specific concerns, and there are large­scale concerns. For us Nordic countries, we just decided to do things together," Lundqvist said.

He also said cross membership among companies in the various European chambers is a nonissue for them, as they all do events together.

Lundqvist said a good example of how European business chambers come together is through the EU­-Philippine Business Network (EPBN).

Established in January 2014, the EPBN is cofunded by the EU and implemented by the European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines, together with the Belgian, British, French, German, Italian, Nordic and Spanish business chambers.

Its objective is to provide a support framework for European companies, specifically small­ and medium­scale enterprises, interested in exporting or investing in the Philippines.

Lundqvist said in the EPBN, they handle the information­-communications technology and green­-energy sector. 

Meanwhile, Lundqvist said he hopes the next Philippine administration will continue on the path of economic progress and good governance that has been established currently by the Aquino’s administration.

Among the NBCP’s wish list for the next administration is for it to carry out. infrastructure investments, including ports, airports, roads and trains; continue the transparency and anticorruption program of the current administration; remove red tape; start free­trade agreements; and open the economy.

The NBCP was established in 2012 to bring together Nordic companies operating in the Philippines and create jobs for Filipinos.

Currently, it has 95 member­-companies from Nordic countries, including Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden, along with those from the Baltic, including Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. 

Source: Business Mirror