Joyce congratulates ASEAN 40 award winners in the Philippines

Economic Development Minister Steven Joyce has congratulated the five Filipino’s who were awarded NZ ASEAN 40^th awards at a ceremony in Manila last night.

“Five influential friends of New Zealand here in the Philippines, who have all made a significant contribution to the relationship between our two countries were deserving recipients of the honour,” says Mr Joyce.

“The NZ ASEAN Awards tell the story of our relationship with each country in the ASEAN region,” says Mr Joyce. 

This year New Zealand is commemorating 40 years of ties with ASEAN.

“ASEAN is New Zealand’s fourth largest trading partner. In the past five years, New Zealand’s trade with ASEAN has grown at a rate second only to China.

“This commemorative year is an opportunity to remember our shared history, and look to a strong future together,” says Mr Joyce.

The Philippines was a founding member of ASEAN. In 2016 New Zealand and the Philippines will celebrate 50 years of diplomatic relations.

Mr Joyce also met with Secretary of Finance, Cesar Purisima, and Secretary of Socio-economic Planning, Arsenio Balisacan in Manila.

“My discussions focused on the Philippines’ economic success story in recent years. Last year it was the second fastest growing economy in Asia."

Mr Joyce met with a number of New Zealand businesses in the Philippines and with the heads of companies that have invested in New Zealand.

“The potential for deepening our business links with the Philippines is considerable. The Philippines offers a market of over 100 million people and an educated, English-speaking, workforce.

“Our people links are behind growing connections in business, education, and between our governments. Over 40,000 Filipino’s live and work in New Zealand, making valuable contributions across the workforce- particularly on the Christchurch rebuild.”

He also met with the President of the Asian Development Bank, Takehiko Nakao, and discussed work the Bank is doing to support public-private partnerships and “economic corridors”.

The Philippines is the host of APEC in 2015.

Mr Joyce next travels to Viet Nam, for meetings and events in Ha Noi and Ho Chi Minh City, 5–7 August.

Biographies of award recipients:

Donald G. Dee

Donald Dee has been a long-time supporter of New Zealand’s business interests in the Philippines.  With wide-ranging experience in the areas of tourism, garment and textile manufacturing, infrastructure and energy, Mr Dee is currently an NZTE Beachheads Advisor for the Philippines with a focus on supporting companies with their business strategy and scenario planning.

Mr Dee was a former Council member of the ASEAN Business Advisory Council (ABAC)-Philippines, through which he interacted with New Zealand’s ABAC members. As the current Honorary Chairman and Chief Operating Officer of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Mr Dee has used the Chamber’s networks to support the visit of New Zealand business delegations to the Philippines.

Ethel Hope L. Dignadice-Villaflor

Ethel Dignadice-Villaflor is an alumni of Victoria University of Wellington (Master of Public Management, 2010) and has been instrumental in helping to establish the NZ Alumni Association of the Philippines, which was formally launched in 2014.

The Association, and Mrs Dignadice-Villaflor, are now contributing to the growing Filipino/New Zealand bilateral relationship through supporting events, and deepening the people-to-people links.

Richard B. Tantoco

Richard Tantoco is President and Chief Operating Officer of Energy Development Corporation (EDC), the largest Philippine generator of electricity from geothermal energy. Mr Tantoco is a strong champion of the New Zealand-Philippines bilateral business relationship; EDC works with a range of companies and specialists from the New Zealand geothermal sector.

In the 1970s, the New Zealand Aid Programme supported the Philippines to develop its geothermal energy industry. The relationships established then have remained strong; EDC continues to send its staff to the geothermal course at IESE at Auckland University for their professional development.

Wilfred Steven Uytengsu

Fred Uytengsu has been a strong supporter of building stronger ties between the New Zealand and Philippine dairy industries, including supporting access to the Philippine market.  Alaska has been a long-time client of New Zealand dairy companies which are helping to meet nutritional needs in the Philippines.

Mr Uytengsu is a keen athlete and has travelled to New Zealand to participate in triathlon/ironman events. As a supporter of triathlon and ironman he has helped bring New Zealand athletes to compete in sporting events in the Philippines.

Philip C. Yao

Philip Yao is the current chairman of the Philippine-New Zealand Business Council and has provided energetic leadership and committed support to the Council for more than a decade.

During his tenure with PNZBC, Mr Yao has provided strong support for high profile NZ Inc events such as New Zealand Weeks in the Philippines.  He continues to provide invaluable support, contacts and guidance to New Zealand companies.