Page 8 - Hello Philippines November 2015 'B' issue

8 www.hello-philippines.com BUSINESS & FINANCE November 2015 / Fortnightly – No. 22 • UK & Europe Edition

#APEC2015
ABAC initiatives to boost economic
participation of MSMEs adopted

MANILA - The Asia Pacific Pacific Services Coalition and MSMEs comprise 97 percent of Micro entrepreneurs undergo a skills training workshop on microfinance by the Sinag NGO in this August
Economic Cooperation (APEC) has launch of the Regional Services businesses in APEC, employing more 2015 handout photo. The APEC has adopted most of the key recommendations of the APEC Business Advisory
adopted key initiatives of the APEC Coalition to advance the services than half of the total workforce in Council on empowering MSMEs, which play a key role in the economic life of member economies of APEC.
Business Advisory Council (ABAC), agenda in APEC to foster growth the region, sharing 13 to 60 percent
the voice of businesses in the region, and efficiency in the sector; of gross domestic product and and entrepreneurship, finance and Meeting (AELM) will be held in
to boost the economic participation accounting for 35 percent of direct economics, and industry dialogues. Manila from Nov. 18 to 19. n Kris M.
of micro, small, and medium ● the Asia-Pacific Infrastructure exports.
enterprises (MSMEs). Partnership and the Asia-Pacific The APEC Economic Leaders Crismundo / PNA / November 14, 2015 / 8:22 pm
Forum on Financial Inclusion under “APEC and ABAC both worked
During the opening of the ABAC the Cebu Action Plan, which aims to on the theme of inclusive growth,
fourth meeting for 2015 in Makati improve access of MSMEs to finance; our priorities are nearly identical,
City on Saturday, ABAC Chair Doris showing that we share an
Magsaysay-Ho said the private ● the Asia Pacific Food Industry understanding and appreciation
sector recommendations to improve Forum that engages the private of the work that needs to be done
the region’s business environment sector to convey priorities and to address the pressing economic
for MSMEs were well received by concerns on food security; and concerns facing the region,” she
APEC. said.
● the first APEC SME Summit
Ho said the forum has carried which aims to mainstream the The private sector arm of APEC
out recommendations for MSMEs innovation agenda in the region. will present to APEC economic
in the sectors of services, finance, leaders next week its 2015 ABAC
e-commerce and food security. Ho noted that the Boracay Action Report which contains other
Plan of Ministers Responsible for recommendations in areas of regional
In particular, these ABAC Trade and the Iloilo Initiative of SME economic integration, sustainable
initiatives adopted by APEC are: Ministers will allow more micro and development, connectivity, MSME
small businesses to participate in
● the establishment of the Asia the regional and global trade.

PLDT partners with US fan app developer Hopscotch
MANILA / LOS ANGELES, USA - Leading exclusively distribute Hopscotch’s mobile the Ariana Grande, Imagine Dragons and plug-and-play services integrated into the Apart from servicing a string of sports

telecom and digital services provider solutions in Southeast Asia. Maroon 5 concerts. platform. teams and venues, Hopscotch recently

Philippine Long Distance Telephone The company’s investment arm, PLDT PLDT Capital’s co-managing director PLDT Capital has engaged local digital designed and delivered mobile apps for

Company (“PLDT”) (PSE: TEL) (NYSE: Capital, has put $US1 million into the Winston Damarillo encouraged sports content provider, MediaQuest Holdings’ two of the world’s most celebrated live

PHI) announced that it has entered into partnership, which has already produced teams, retail brands and events companies Digital5, to go to market in the Philippines. events, New York Fashion Week and Taste

a partnership with US-based fan app apps for fans of the Philippine Basketball to grow their fan base and consumer Head of Digital5, Coach Chot Reyes, said of London.

developer, Hopscotch, to market and Association, E-Sports Gaming Summit and loyalty through custom applications built he planned to offer creative services to Founder and CEO of Hopscotch,

on Hopscotch’s platform. produce cutting-edge graphics and short- Laurence Sotsky, expressed his

“More and more Filipinos are starting form videos to be seeded within the app. excitement over expanding into Asia.

to use their smartphones to connect with “A lot of companies can build apps, “We’re thrilled to partner with the

brands,andHopscotchprovidesbusinesses, but the key is to give fans a reason to keep PLDT Group as our exclusive distributor

both large and small, the opportunity to using them­—this drives engagement, and in the ASEAN Region,” he said. “Not only

engage with their customers in a more provides stickiness for our partners.” does this partnership expand Hopscotch’s

personalized way,” he said. MediaQuest President and CEO Noel footprint into Southeast Asia, but it

In as little as two weeks, businesses can Lorenzana said Digital5’s participation also gives us access to a wide variety of

customize their own apps by dragging and in the deal underscored the company’s large¬scale opportunities across sports,

dropping video, music and social media commitment to capture Filipino viewers entertainment and retail.”

assets into a Content Management System. across all kinds of screens. Like PLDT, InterAksyon.com, the

The interface can also deliver “Many of them are now digital natives online news portal is chaired by Manuel

audience insights and revenue reports on and look to their devices for content that is V. Pangilinan. n InterAksyon.com / November 13,

merchandise and ticket sales, enabled by tailored for them,” he said. 2015 / 1:25 pm

Cebu Air Inc. posts 71% hike in Jan.-Sept. net profit
MANILA - The operator of Cebu in 2014 driven by the increased number months, or lower by 1 percent than the

Pacific and Cebgo posted a 71-percent of flights in 2015. P35.591-billion operating expenses

growth in net profit from January to Cargo revenues rose 10.2 percent to recorded in the same period in 2014.

September 2015, and attributed this to P2.49 billion. CEB traced the decrease “to the

higher passenger revenues and lower The number of flights went up substantial reduction in fuel costs

jet fuel prices. by 9.8 percent year-on-year as the incurred for the nine months ended

The net income of Cebu Air Inc. Group added more aircraft to its fleet, September 30, 2015, compared to the

stood at P3.56 billion in the nine- particularly, the wide-body Airbus same period last year due to the sharp

month period, up from last year’s A330 aircraft with a configuration of decline in global jet fuel prices.”

P2.08 billion. more than 400 all-economy class seats. From $119.27 per barrel in 2014,

Revenues amounted to P42.26 Cebu Pac’s number of aircraft also jet fuel prices during the period went

billion in the first nine months, or 9.9 rose from 51 as of September 30, 2014 down to $68.13 per barrel in the nine

percent higher than the P38.45 billion to 55 aircraft as of September. months ended September.

posted in the same period last year. The increase in revenues was partly The lower fuel prices was partially

Passenger revenues contributed offset by the slight decline (0.8%) in offset, though, by the weakening of the

P32.13 billion, which is higher by 8.1 average fares to P2,353 for the nine Philippine peso against the US dollar,

percent over last year’s P29.73 billon. months ended September, from P2,372 or to P45.06 per US dollar in the first

This was mainly attributable to the for the same period last year. nine months of the year, from $44.26

9-percent growth in passenger volume The Group incurred operating per US dollar last year. n Daryl Gutierrez /

to 13.652 million, from 12.530 million expenses of P35.224 billion for the nine InterAksyon.com / November 14, 2015 / 2:50 am

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