PH rank in Innovation 2019

Philippines break into the ranks of innovation achievers - report

Dennis Valdez

BusinessWorld

26 July 2019

THE PHILIPPINES has moved up 19 spots to 54^th out of 129 economies from last year on an annual list that tracks their performance in terms of innovation, with the country breaking into the ranks of 17 others that “outperform” in this regard relative to gross domestic product.

The Global Innovation Index 2019 (GII) — prepared by Cornell University, INSEAD and the World Intellectual Property Organization — said the Philippines improved in almost all the metrics which the report used, namely: in Institutions, Human Capital and Research, Infrastructure, Business Sophistication, Knowledge and Technology Outputs and Creative Outputs.

“In the Business sophistication (32^nd) pillar, the Philippines improves in almost all the indicators related to Innovation linkages and gains top ranks in High-tech imports (5^th) and Research talent (6^th),” the report read.

“In Knowledge and technology outputs (31^st), the data for indicator High-tech net exports became available this year and the country ranks 1^st,” it added.

“Four other indicators rank in the top 10: Firms offering formal training (9^th), productivity growth (10^th), ICT services exports (8^th), and Creative goods exports (8^th).”

At the same time, the Philippines was found weak in terms of ease of starting a business, ease of getting credit, expenditure on education, global R&D companies, scientific and technical articles and new businesses.

“While some changes to the GII model explain a small part of this leap, newly available metrics give a more thorough assessment of the country’s innovation performance, which itself shows some signs of progress,” the report said of the Philippines’ performance this year.

Compared to its regional peers, the report said the Philippines showed “relatively good scores” particularly in trademarks, females employed with advanced degrees, high-tech imports and creative goods exports.

The report noted that, on the whole, the country was one of the most improved on this year’s list, propelling it to break into the “innovation achievers” cluster.

“The Philippines appears for the first time in the group of innovation achievers. It scores above average in all innovation dimensions, with the exception of Market sophistication, relative to its lower middle-income peers,” the report said.

“It has remarkable performance in Knowledge diffusion and Knowledge absorption, not only relative to its income group and geographic region, but also relative to all other economies assessed in the GII.”

Reacting to the report, Trade Secretary Ramon M. Lopez said in a statement: “This is great news for our nation and our innovation ecosystem as a whole. It recognizes the efforts of the various government agencies… in advancing innovation among our people and MSMEs (micro, small, medium enterprises), creating an innovative culture, as well as in building linkages with academe and industry.”

He added that he expects further improvement in the country’s rank after the recent signing of Republic Act (RA) No. 11293 or the Philippine Innovation Act and RA No. 11337 or the Innovative Startup Act.

Malacañang also welcomed results of the latest report, saying in a statement that it commends the departments and agencies that helped achieve the improvement in the country’s global rank. “May this good news further motivate them in creating an environment that nurtures innovation and creates business opportunities as we become one of the fastest growing economies in the globe,” Presidential Spokesperson Salvador S. Panelo was quoted as saying.

The global top 10 consist of, in descending order: Switzerland (also top last year), Sweden (from 3^rd), the United States (from 6^th), the Netherlands (from 2^nd), the United Kingdom (from 4^th), Finland (from 7^th), Denmark (from 8^th), Singapore (8^th from 5^th), Germany (flat from 9^th last year) and Israel (from 11^th).

Seven of the 15 economies in the South East Asia, East Asia and Oceania group rank in the top 25, namely: Singapore, South Korea (11^th), Hong Kong (13^th), China (14^th), Japan (15^th), Australia (22^nd) and New Zealand (25^th).

Besides Singapore (8^th) and the Philippines (54^th), the other Southeast Asian countries on the list performed as follows: Malaysia (35^th), Vietnam (42^nd), Thailand (43^rd), Brunei (71^st), Indonesia (85^th) and Cambodia (98^th).

India, to which the Philippines is frequently compared when it comes to business process outsourcing, placed 52^nd in this year’s report. — Denise A. Valdez

PH is Regional leader in Antitrust laws

Philippines Steps Up Regional Edge In Antitrust Law Enforcement

By Marvie Chorawan-Basilan

Feb 21, 2019 

A view of nickel ore stockpiles at a port in Sta Cruz Zambales in northern Philippines February 8, 2017. (Photo: REUTERS/Erik De Castro/File Photo)

The Philippines is gradually transforming into a regional leader in the enforcement of antitrust laws as the Southeast Asian country jumped to 5^th place in 2018's Asia-Pacific policy records.

According to local newspaper The Philippine Star, competition news and analysis firm Policy and Regulatory Report (PaRR) revealed in its 2019 "Global Trends Monitor" report that the Philippines stepped up three places higher in the top 10 Asia-Pacific list of economies that allow for fair competition in trade and business.

PaRR's report noted that the Philippine Competition Commission (PCC) enhanced its authority, thus strengthening the monitoring activities of markets or trade practices that could be hampering growth in some business sectors in the country.

"The Philippine Competition Commission is strengthening its enforcement framework this year with the introduction of a leniency program and the addition of rules on forbearance and dawn raids to its arsenal of investigative tools," part of the report stated.

Last year, the Philippine antitrust agency recorded a total of 40 acquisition transactions and mergers, accounting for PHP438 billion. Of the M&A transactions recorded, 33 were given the approval to proceed with the projects.

In April, the agency released a draft of guidelines that seek to benefit joint ventures. The merger notification threshold for Philippine exchange was also raised to PHP5 billion.

This year, the PCC is looking to focus on chain logistics, petroleum refining, sugar and pesticides manufacturing, corn milling and trading, and other trading programs that seek to enhance fair exchange in the Philippines, the report added.

Another country that made a significant rise in the ranks is Indonesia. The report found that Indonesia has climbed to 6^th place, one level higher from its 7^th spot record in 2017. The top three economies in antitrust enforcement practices are China, Australia, and South Korea respectively.

AEC News Today reported that Indonesia appointed new competition commissioners as part of its efforts in enforcing antitrust policies. This move also echoed the ASEAN member nations' October move of establishing the Asean Competition Enforcers Network - a program that encourages Asean states to cooperate on competition cases.

Other Asian countries also joined the fight against unfair trade standards as Myanmar eased its foreign investment rules last year and Singapore approved amendments to its competition law.

For its part in the global reinvention of antitrust policies, Vietnam fined companies that engaged in anticompetitive conduct, including Grab. In addition, Thailand finally granted conditional clearance to Glow Energy to imply its willingness in the Asia-Pacific region's goals of providing the trade industry with justifiable practices that will benefit both giants, small, and medium-sized operations.

Asia's Top Entrepreneur

Father of Philippine cosmetics named top
entrepreneur 

Manila Standard| Business
08 December 2018

Ever Bilena president and chief executive Dioceldo Sy was named Regus Entepreneur of the Year during the 2018 Asia CEO Awards.

The award was given to Sy for successfully building Ever Bilena as the leading cosmetics company in the country. 

Ever Bilena chief operating officer Siliman Sy accepts the trophy on behalf of Dioceldo.

The 2018 Asia CEO Awards, held at Marriot Hotel in Pasay City, is the largest business awards event in the Philippines and Southeast Asia that recognizes extraordinary leaders who have made outstanding achievements for their organizations and contributions to others.

Ever Bilena CEO Dioceldo Sy

The Regus Entrepreneur of the Year award is given to individuals who achieved business growth and expansion across the Association of Southeast Asian Nation region, as well as those who have successfully demonstrated a commitment to introduce innovation and boost economic capabilities and competitiveness within the region.

“I am really honored to accept such a prestigious award. Ever Bilena is a team, and we are very proud of everything we have accomplished for the past 35 years. This is a huge win, not only for us, but for our loyal customers as well,” said Sy.

Hailed as the ‘Father of Philippine Cosmetics, Dioceldo sits at the helm of Ever Bilena, which now has over 1,000 affordable quality products. Multiple brands such as EB Advance, EB Naturals, Careline and Blackwater were also launched for diversity.

Following Ever Bilena’s success in the Philippines, Sy is setting his sights on neighboring Southeast Asia, particularly Indonesia, one of Asia’s fastest growing beauty markets.

Sy is also a major supporter of basketball and is a former chair of the Philippine Basketball League. He has bankrolled several championship teams. He also supports several charitable causes.

The Entrepreneur of the Year Circle of Excellence Awardees include Dr. Carl Balita of Carl Balita Review Center, Jean Henri Lhuillier of PJ Lhuillier, Joel Cruz of Aficionado Perfumes-Central Affirmative, Karla Stefan Singson of PREP-KSS Events and Promotions, Mario Berta of Fly Spaces, Paul Rivera of Kalibrr Technology Ventures and Robbie Antonio of Revolution Precrafted.

Manila is Uniqlo's biggest in SE Asia

Uniqlo Manila is biggest flagship store in SE Asia

October 8, 2018 

BusinessWorld

A GUEST gets overwhelmed by the perfectly folded shirts on display. It takes five minutes to decide which to buy among the six available colors of the round neck shirt. The chosen color is tossed into a shopping bag (along with five other staple pieces in neutral colors). The possibility of sharing the same outfit with everyone else is no problem thanks to its design versatility and function.

In 1949, a textile manufacturer opened in Yamaguchi, Japan. Then Tadashi Yanai took over his father’s business in 1984 and named the brand “Unique Clothing Warehouse” with the goal on establishing his own casual clothing store. The name was contracted to “Uniqlo” in 1988. Today, Uniqlo has over 1,000 stores worldwide.

On the sixth anniversary since its arrival in the Philippines, the Japanese casual retailer opened its flagship store at Glorietta 5, Ayala Ave. in Makati city — the biggest in Southeast Asia.

“Our global flagship stores are designed as showcases to the world, displaying the very best that Uniqlo has to offer. Uniqlo Manila is an important example of our commitment to Southeast Asia. It is one of the largest Uniqlo stores in the world and is a big step forward in continued Uniqlo growth in the region and globally,” Satoshi Hatase, CEO of Uniqlo Southeast Asia and Oceania, was quoted as saying in a press release.

The atrium area of the 4,100-sq.m. flagship store, like those abroad, has a 360 LED screen and rotating mannequins, this time wearing outfits from the Our Future is Here collection. The store’s pillars sport artworks by the Plus63 Design Group.

The ground floor of the store offers the complete lineup of men’s and ladies’ LifeWear, has a large kids and baby section, a tech wear section featuring the brand’s AIRism and HEATTEACH clothes, and seasonal collections. The second floor houses the Uniqlo UT Jump 50^th, MAGIC FOR ALL (a collaboration with The Walt Disney company), and the Smart Travel collection.

A display featuring the collaborative design project of Japanese stylist Shun Watanabe and Filipino visual artist Leeroy New showcases former’s on-trend styling and the latter’s creative headpieces.

“It’s not about the clothes. It’s about the people wearing them, their lifestyle, and how the clothes can make their life better,” Georgette Barrera-Jalasco, marketing director of Uniqlo Philippines, told BusinessWorld at the store’s launch on Oct. 4.

Also at the second floor is a video game area where visitors can try out the soon-to-be-released Jump Force video game by BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment.

After long hours of shopping, visitors can rest their weary feet at the Uniqlo terrace at the second floor, overlooking Glorietta 4, which features furniture by designer Kenneth Cobonpue.

The flagship store in Manila is the 15^th global flagship store in Uniqlo’s 11 global markets. — Michelle Anne P. Soliman

The new Hong Kong

Manila rising as the ‘new Hong Kong’ 

Othel V. Campos
Manila Standard
September 27, 2017 

Manila is rapidly rising as a megacity powered by a growing pool of high-value talent, real estate expansion and a robust consumption-driven economy, property advisor Santos Knight Frank said Wednesday.

“Manila today is the Hong Kong and Singapore of 30 years ago. The level of development in the metropolis over the last decade has been unprecedented and reflects on the accelerated expansion of the property market. Manila has since become an important hub for industries such as IT-BPO [information technology-business process outsourcing] with huge opportunities of growth for other sectors,” said Santos Knight Frank chairman and chief executive Rick Santos.

He said with a population of more than 25 million people, the Greater Manila Area now had more people than Hong Kong and Singapore combined.

Its demographic is a high-value asset in industries such as IT-BPO, where Metro Manila ranks as fourth in the world based on the 2017 Tholons Services Globalization (Outsourcing) Index. 

Santos Knight Frank chairman Rick Santos discusses the property consulting company’s latest findings on the future trends in real estate in the global cities around the world during a news briefing and launching of Santos Knight Frank’s Global Cities Report 2018 at Makati Shangri-la Hotel. Lino Santos

A fast-growing metropolis, Metro Manila’s property market remains robust vis-à-vis several Asian cities. Prime office rents grew between 5 percent and 6 percent annually from 2011.

Prime office rents in Metro Manila increased 3.4 percent year-on-year in the second quarter, outperforming Tokyo at 3.2 percent; Taipei, 2.8 percent; Beijing, -1.9 percent; Shanghai, -2 percent; Singapore, -5.1 percent; and Jakarta, -8.3 percent.

Meanwhile, Metro Manila had one of the lowest vacancy rates at 3.4 percent across Asia Pacific in the second quarter.

“On a regional basis, the performance and fundamentals of the Manila office market look solid. While some of the other Southeast Asian markets are seeing demand remain sluggish and the major Chinese cities are seeing huge amounts of new supply, the Manila market has one of the tightest vacancy rates in the region and looks set for a strong 2018,” said Knight Frank Asia Pacific head of research Nicholas Holt.

The consulting firm said with a growing number of companies venturing onto the global stage, Metro Manila continued to see diversified demand, not only in the office market, but also in the residential sector, where investors from Southeast Asia, China and the Middle East were putting more capital into the Philippines.

“Over the next four years, Manila will see more than 3 million sqm of new office space added to the market. About 2 million sqm of residential space and half a million sqm more for retail will come online by 2019,” Santos said.

The government lined up 64 major infrastructure projects in the Philippines, several of which are underway in Metro Manila such as the NLEx-SLEx Connector Road, Naian Expressway Phase 2 and NLEx Harbor Link.

To decongest the metropolis and encourage development in the outskirts, important mass transport projects such as Mega Manila Subway, Manila-Clark Railway and expansion of the Light Rail Train are also in the pipeline.

“With limited supply of land in the city core, new districts have emerged in the outskirts of Metro Manila. The next wave of expansion is happening in emerging areas such as Alabang, Nuvali, Bulacan and Clark. It is crucial that infrastructure is in place to provide efficient connectivity between various parts of this growing city,” Santos said.