PNBC elects New Board, featured PEZA in Luncheon Event

The PNBC Networking Luncheon held last 11 April 2013 at the I’m Angus Steak House in Yakal St. is perhaps one of the best, if not the best of the networking luncheons held since PNBC’s inception.

Foremost it served as the Annual General Membership (AGM) meeting, where a new set of Board of Directors were elected. Secondly, it featured Director General, PEZA, Undersecretary, Department of Trade and Industry Lilia De Lima, who made a very brilliant and endearing presentation on “Why Invest in the Philippines” and “Why Invest in PEZA Zones”.

The event started with the presentation of the 2012 Accomplishments of PNBC, led by President Ivar Thomasli and the rest of the PNBC Board. Immediately after, Counsellor Knut-Are S. Okstad, acting as Election Commissioner, proceeded with the election process.

The new Board of Directors are:

Mr. Ivar Thomasli,
Ms. Jannicke Steen
Mr. Rodolfo T. Azanza Jr.
Mr. Jan Andre’ Heggem, Public Relations Officer
Mr. Luis Alfredo Perez, Director
Mr. Finn T. Wattenberg, Director
Mr. Emmanuel Rubio
Mr. Carsten Brill
Mr. Frank Fodstad
Amb. Knut Solem / Mr. Knut Are Sprauten-Okstad, Observers

The Board will elect among themselves the new set of PNBC officers.

In the second part of the event, Norwegian Ambassador, H.E. Knut Solem introduced the guest speaker, PEZA Director General Lilia De Lima. After the perfunctory salutations, Director General De Lima gave a rundown of the reasons why investors follow the path taken by many others in considering the Philippines as a prime investment destination. She showed how the investment trend has improved since 1995 up to 2012, with much progress seen after Pres. Noynoy Aquino took hold of the country’s helm. She enumerated the fiscal and non-fiscal incentives that investors enjoy being in the PEZA zones, and also showcased her organization as both being a “One-Stop Shop” where investors get all the assistance needed to do business within PEZA zones, and a “Non-Stop Shop” where PEZA provides those sterling services 24/7, “all year round, except Good Fridays”. The Q&A portion was just as vibrant as Director General De Lima’s presentation.

And as for the food, finally the famous I’m Angus steak made it to the menu, much to the delight of everyone in attendance.