| Integration and convergence |
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Aug 16, 2007 World Trade Center, Roxas Blvd. Pasay City |
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It is my honor to join all
traders, exhibitors, delegates, and buyers in opening the "Systems
Integration Philippines Expo 2007." Welcome to the Philippines. And welcome to this assembly of industry leaders, technology experts, decision makers, innovators exhibitors and investors. I congratulate Globalink Marketing, for organizing this very timely trade show that leads us to business integration and convergence. Today, through expos and trade shows, more investments are coming in, more people prosper and more business enterprises are empowered. It is gratifying to see business sectors and major industries in the country and in the world, forging stronger ties to achieve better efficiency, establish cost effective systems and operate more profitable enterprises. I understand that your trade show expects to bring in 20,000 trade buyers, with over 300 confirmed exhibitors from 19 countries — in three days, starting today. That is impressive! And encouraging! Trade shows such as this boost local growth, even as it keeps us in step with global trends. This coming together of technology leaders, partners and investors, from here and abroad, offers exhibitors new markets; visitors, new solutions; and the country, new opportunities for growth. This one-of-a-kind trade show promises to be a breeding ground for more innovations, acquiring greater market share, posting higher incomes and profits, and, most importantly, contributing to the improvement of the life of our people and the peoples of the world. As Director General of the Presidential Management Staff under the Office of the President and Cabinet Oversight Official for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise development, I look forward to strengthening our own ties and partnerships with you today, to open up new opportunities for entrepreneurship and to build for ourselves a business horizon gleaming with prospects. For now, our greater strength likes in our ability to embrace change, integrating new technologies, assimilating new products and services, and welcoming new members to our growing entrepreneurial class. It is no exaggeration that the country today is hard-wired for entrepreneurship. But in order for the entrepreneurial spirit to lead to success, it must be vested with an environment that would allow it to thrive. The key to maintaining a country’s economic vibrancy is its ability to sustain a community of innovators. Openness to new ideas and different perspectives are among the more important factors in nurturing growth. I am pleased to note that here in the Philippines, we are making progress. And while there is much more that we still must do, I am encouraged by the many stories of outstanding entrepreneurs and their successful enterprises that we come by everyday. To invigorate and sustain new businesses and start-ups, however, we need to engage all the stakeholders: government, business experts and investors. We must begin to focus on the long-run adaptability of our businesses, and our capacity to grow new ones. The strategy of sharing and integrating market, industry and technology among the established companies and start-up businesses, including micro, small and medium enterprises, is a potent formula to address traditional barriers to business growth and beef up our competitiveness in the global economy. Today, we have created a business climate conducive to dynamic growth and development, where transparency and accountability are the norm, in a level playing field. Needless to say, we paid a price for this growth trajectory that we see today. President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo invested political capital in enforcing hard-to-swallow reforms that gave us an unprecedented winning streak of 26 quarters of GDP growth, — the longest in our history. This has, in turn, created an economic landscape laden with great opportunities for those bold enough to go into business. Confidence is up. And we expect even more investments in the wake of growing political stability and sound economic stewardship. The President is asking us to remain focused on new ideas, to take that bolder outlook to shore up domestic investments and attract foreign capital. To our visiting partners, I hope you will help us spread the good news about the Philippines. Beyond any doubt, your Systems Integration Expo is a golden opportunity for us to explore new directions across borders, and to test new coalitions for fighting poverty through technology, and through innovations in products and services. Rest assured that President Arroyo will lead the country towards carving our niche as one of the top ICT destinations of the world, even as we are now ranked 8th in the competitiveness index of top consulting firm at Kearney. We will pursue even more vigorously our quest for market leadership -- globalizing our business and trade operations, embracing new technologies, and adopting new management methods -- to remain competitive in the global marketplace. The way to growth is no longer a mystery. The road to development has been mapped. We will continue to count on the partnerships we will forge over the next three days, as we work together towards a legacy of building excellent industries, to work together towards a legacy of a better world. We see the Systems Integration Philippines 2007 not just an industrial trade show. We see it as a movement, a campaign, and a tidal flow for development, whose every cog and wheel is fine-tuned for success. Let us collaborate as we innovate, and improve our country’s business landscape, and together, let us bring countries closer to First-World status. Thank you very much and I wish you a most successful trade exhibit. Mabuhay ang Systems Integration Philippines 2007! |
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