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The ASEAN Economic Community is one of the pillars of an integrated region envisioned to take place in 2015. The AEC aims for a single market base of over 600 million consumers and a GDP of over US$1.3 trillion, as well as a production base where there will be free flow of goods, services, investments, capital and skilled labor.

Representatives of ASEAN and Philippine firms will share ideas and plans on how the opportunities and risks of an integrated community two years from now.

INDICATIVE PROGRAM: P&A CEO Business Forum, 23 October 2012

08:00 Registration

08:35 Introduction
Host/Moderator : Maria Ressa, CEO & Executive Editor, Rappler.com

08:45 08:55 Welcome remarks
Marivic Españo, P&A Chairperson & CEO

08:55 09:25 Preparing ASEAN businesses towards an integrated economy
 Dr. Lim Hong Hin, ASEAN Deputy Secretary-General for the AEC
How is the ASEAN region progressing towards the AEC in 2015? How is the present global financial environment affecting the region’s outlook and plans in terms of trade liberalization, investments flow, and movement of labor in the AEC? How involved is the ASEAN business community in these efforts? What are some of the best practices that the private sector has initiated to prepare for the integration?
(10 minutes for Q&A)

09:25 10:00 Impact of AEC and identifying measures to ensure competitiveness
• Ysmael Baysa, Chief Finance Officer and Vice President of Corporate Finance of Jollibee Foods Corp.
• Jay Yuvallos, President, YZ Global Resources, Inc.
What is the extent of the impact of the AEC on the Philippines? How ready are local businesses and industries to compete in the AEC and take advantage of its opportunities? What policies and infrastructure are needed to help businesses stay competitive as the ASEAN economies integrate? What are the practical steps that businesses need to take to ensure competitiveness in an integrated ASEAN economy? How can the private sector be involved in preparing the Philippines for the integration?
(10 minutes for Q&A)

10:00 11:00 Panel discussion and reaction
 John Forbes, Senior Advisor, American Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines
 Olive Collantes-Ramos, President and Managing Director, DHL Exel Supply Chain
 Nestor Tan, President, BDO Unibank, Inc.
 Dr. Bernardo Villegas, Professor, University of Asia and the Pacific
 Malcolm Ward, Executive Director, APAC Practice Development, Grant Thornton International
(15 minutes for Q&A)

11:00 11:30 Laying out the groundwork for a competitive Philippine business sector
The Honorable Adrian Cristobal, Undersecretary of the Department of Trade and Industry
What is the government’s strategy to ensure that local industries benefit from an integrated economy? What are its policies and programs vis-à-vis the concerns and critical areas noted by the private sector in relation to the AEC? How is it preparing for the AEC? How is it doing in terms of the AEC Blueprint Scorecard? How can the government further partner with the private sector in ensuring industry competitiveness in the region?
(10 minutes for Q&A)

11:30 11:40 Closing Remarks
 Benjamin Punongbayan, P&A Founder

Marivic Espano starts her introduction, Road to 2015 ASEAN economic community

To gauge how our country's companies are doing today, we should look at how companies of other countries are doing. - Marivic Espano

The change in perception of the Philippines is definitely refreshing - Dr. Lim

AEC is the best strategy for ASEAN to have a stable and prosperous economy - Dr. Lim

It does not mean that the whole region will change by the year 2015. That is not a correct interpretation of our agenda. - Dr. Lim

Lim: ASEAN region's real income will increase by US$6.9-B when AEC is realized by 2015

Level of implementation on the Philippines of Phase 1 of the AEC from 2008-2009 was up to 90%. - Dr. Lim

Lim focuses on a large trade agreement China, Japan, Korea, India, Australia and 10 ASEAN partners are trying to form. "It gives the sense that we are trying to move forward."

Lim is asked if common ASEAN currency will be helpful in market integration

Lim says the time is not right for a common currency in ASEAN.

Lim does want ASEAN to work towards a common currency but admits it is a way off.

UA&P's Bernardo Villegas raised the issue of the entry of foreign investments in the country after a Supreme Court decision limiting further foreign ownership in public utilities