The Makati Business Club manages bilateral business councils established to promote business and investment between the Philippines and France, Malaysia, Singapore, the United Kingdom, and the United States. The councils, composed of top business executives, participate in meetings in the Philippines and abroad with their foreign counterparts in order to explore business opportunities and to exchange views on policies of mutual concern.

The Philippines-British Business Council was launched on 13 November 1995 in Manila in the presence of Philippine Trade and Industry Secretary Rizalino Navarro and British Minister of State Lord Fraser.

The council’s objectives are to create a forum for contact and mutual business development between council members; to identify areas where the business sector of both countries could work together for mutual benefit; to agree on work programs to be carried out by supporting administrations between meetings; to consider how to develop mutual trade at the level of small and medium enterprises, including the creation of partnership structures; to investigate inward investment opportunities and action in both directions; to identify targeted sectors for future collaboration and work programs; and to consider third-country collaboration and identify specific opportunities.

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The Philippines-France Business Council was launched on 6 October 1998 in Manila, with Philippine Trade and Industry Undersecretary Melito Salazar and French Minister of Foreign Trade Jacques Dondoux in attendance.

The council’s objectives are to identify and develop areas of cooperation between French and Philippine corporations; to encourage and develop further investments; to enhance and expand trade links; and to develop and foster cooperation between French and Philippine companies in third-party countries in the Asia-Pacific region.

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Philippine President Fidel Ramos and Malaysian Prime Minister Dato’ Seri Dr. Mahathir Mohamad were on hand to witness the launch of the Philippines-Malaysia Business Council on 23 November 1996 during the APEC Business Forum in Manila.

The Council’s objectives are to identify and develop areas of cooperation between both countries’ private sectors; to encourage and develop further investment in both the Philippines and Malaysia; to encourage and develop trade links between both countries; to encourage joint exploration of business opportunities in third countries; to identify business opportunities, particularly at the level of small- and medium-sized enterprises; and to enhance networking, contacts, and exchange of information between the private sectors of both countries.

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On 13 October 1994, the Philippines-Singapore Business Council was launched in Singapore in the presence of Philippine President Fidel Ramos and Singapore Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong.

The council’s objectives are to identify and develop areas of cooperation between both countries’ private sectors; to encourage and develop further investment in both the Philippines and Singapore; to encourage and develop trade links between both countries; to encourage joint exploration of business opportunities in third countries; to identify business opportunities, particularly at the level of small- and medium-sized enterprises; and to enhance networking, contacts, and exchange of information between the private sectors of both countries.

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The Philippines-United States Business Council is composed of the top executives of leading corporations in the Philippines with close business ties to American corporations. It was organized in 1987 after President Corazon Aquino’s state visit to the US.

The council’s objectives are to enhance and promote Philippine-US business relations through its counterpart US-Philippine Business Committee, the Philippine-American Chamber of Commerce, the US-ASEAN Business Council, and individual companies and partners. Over the long term, the tangible results expected are increased trade and investments from the US.

Since 1987, the council has sponsored business missions to the US and hosted visiting US missions. In 1993, the council joined President Fidel Ramos in his trip to the US as part of the official business delegation. The council also actively promoted business in the Philippines during the October 1995 US visit of President Ramos, organizing a business seminar in New York.

The signing in 22 April 2002 of a Business Framework Agreement between the council and the US-Philippine Business Committee of the US-ASEAN Business Council is seen as a significant development in strengthening the two countries’ business ties. The agreement calls for dialogue and joint action in six areas: trade and investment, promoting the Philippines as a regional hub, developing human resources in e-commerce, energy sector development, agricultural development through technology, and tourism.

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