The Philippines needs to do more in promoting itself as an economic partner to Germany as there is more to this country than human rights violations and war on drugs, according to Anke Reiffenstuel, Germany’s ambassador to the Philippines.
Reiffenstuel told a forum hosted by the German-Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry Inc. in Makati yesterday, both countries should provide a better insight in the conditions and environment of the Philippines.
“There’s not so very much knowledge about the Philippines in Germany… (In Germany… when we think… the population, the man on the street thinks about the Philippines, what comes to one’s mind is human rights and war on drugs. (It) is important but it’s not everything. It’s very important to increase knowledge and improve the communication of what’s going on… steps (have to be) taken to attract foreign investments,” Reiffenstuel said.
She said the Philippines is seen as a provider for services like business process outsourcing.
She said trade between the two country is only $5 billion to $6 billion a year which is “not bad but not good either compared to China… there is a much room to improve and to increase.”
Reiffenstuel said Germany remains a most relevant trade partner within Europe and among the 10 most relevant globally main, with imports from the Philippines mostly electronics, semiconductor products and agriculture products.
She added German companies in the Philippines have long and stable reliable bases and relations in the Philippines, the recent 2019 AHK World Business Outlook survey which 70 percent consider business situation in the Philippines.
The same survey said two thirds of these businesses expect growing their businesses over the next 12 months through increased workforce and expansion
