In any relationship, trust is an essential factor for it to last. The ECCP has lived up to its commitment of providing value to the partnership. I admire the support it gives to members by building a community within, thereby promoting inclusive growth among member partners. We are a beneficiary of this ecosystem, thus, we stayed.
The ECCP and Nestlé Philippines share the vision of a robust and prosperous agriculture sector. As Chair of the ECCP Agriculture Committee, Nestlé Philippines is committed to helping build a sustainable and responsible agricultural supply chain in support of farmers. The ECCP is enabling critical synergies between its members and key stakeholders, especially the Philippine government, to drive agricultural productivity and diversity.
Having served as ECCP President and Vice President for more than 4 years, I have witnessed the tremendous growth of the Chamber for the last several years, as it waded through a great deal of uncertainty especially at the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic. Nevertheless, it continued to provide excellent service for its members. It then comes as no surprise that ECCP is often dubbed as the Chamber of Choice.
In a business culture that acknowledges hierarchies, it has been thrilling and an honour to bridge generational gaps and create conversations between top executives. To participate and be treated as a peer in ECCP board meetings has been my mini-MBA, a humbling experience. As a chamber, ECCP differs with its extensive scope – throughout industries, networks, and capabilities – yet the relationships remain intimate and ATN’s customized needs are always met.
This global pandemic has gravely affected the rhythm of daily business, but the ECCP never missed a step. It quickly adapted to the new normal, strengthening its networks with constant and open communication and bringing service to where it is needed. As the Chair of the ECCP North Luzon Business Council, we do our best in extending the same level of service from our office in Clark to ECCP members in North Luzon. Without a doubt, the ECCP continuously fulfills the promise of being the chamber of choice.
Our membership with the ECCP has been a rewarding experience for our organization given their relevant and timely programs and conferences for its members. We have gained a lot from our attendance of the conferences and webinars, giving us a different perspective on the way business is being done here and overseas. Our involvement in the Agricultural Advocacy Committee of the ECCP has provided us with valuable insights on the challenges and opportunities in strengthening the commodity value chains in agricultural communities.
The ECCP allowed us to engage with other multinationals in the industry. The ECCP’s value during the pandemic emerged as it swiftly provided relevant business tools: centralized, consistent, and accurate information through newsletters, opportunities for conversations through webinars, and insightful studies. There is a palpable feeling that the ECCP genuinely exists to aid the business community during these times. As a member for 24 years, All Transport Network’s benefits with the ECCP have evolved over the years; it is a testament to how our partnership grows together and remains relevant.
During these challenging times, being a member of the ECCP has allowed Eastern Communications to connect with its members through each of our respective digital platforms. With the help of the ECCP, Eastern Communications was able to reach different industries and share insights on how to adapt to the ever-changing business landscape. Upgrading from entry-level membership to premium membership gave us access to more channels and more collaboration opportunities, which helped us effectively reach ECCP member companies and build strong connections.
As the newly-elected chair of the Real Estate Committee of the ECCP, we are proud to partner with the ECCP under its first real estate arm. We view our membership through this joint advocacy as a valuable investment; in creating solutions and building a platform of idea exchange and best practices amid such an unprecedented global crisis. In the spirit of collaboration, we remain committed to bringing together key players, insights, and related data that will serve as a guide to making business decisions in real estate.
We have been with the ECCP for almost 20 years, given the ECCP's professional approach to commercial and political matters. The ECCP has unmatched reach, historically-developed relationships, and experience. Upgrading to a premium membership is an investment into the ECCP’s advocacy prowess and assurance to be heard by the government, due to the ECCP’s well-developed relationships. Our membership facilitated joint advocacies shared and expanded not only through the ECCP, Integrity Initiative, and JFC, but other European chambers as well, opening doors to harvesting opportunities in differentiating our services.
As a long time member of the ECCP when the COVID-19 lockdown began, it was challenging for us all to even think about how our membership would help us. Over the ensuing weeks, I began to rely on the regular updates about what was happening, trusting that the team had done their research. We used the data shared from the research team to assist us in making good business decisions and conversations with the teams in our company. Sharing the latest industry updates with our clients, in turn, helped them.
With the lockdown of Metro Manila in mid March, we at SAAB were faced with a situation where we had to close the office and key personnel had to leave Manila and the Philippines. With support from ECCP, I have now managed to address the situation with DTI and DFA. Hopefully I will receive a visa shortly that will allow me to return to Manila and support our local staff and customers in the Philippines despite that foreigners are not allowed to enter the country.
In close partnership with government, businesses, civil society, and academia, ECCP passionately works to enhance the business environment for both European and Filipino companies.