The Joint Foreign Chambers
In 2010, the Joint Foreign Chambers (JFC) of the Philippines, namely the American, Canadian, European, Japanese, Korean chambers and Philippine Association of Multinational Companies Regional Headquarters, Inc. (PAMURI), launched Arangkada Philippines as its advocacy initiative. It has since produced policy briefs comprising a corpus of private sector policy recommendations for job creation, poverty reduction, and increased foreign direct investments, among others.
Arangkada Philippines
Launched in 2010, The Arangkada Philippines Project (TAPP) is the advocacy arm of the Joint Foreign Chambers (JFC). The project advocates for reforms that promote faster economic growth and greater investment. These goals are elaborated in its main policy document, Arangkada Philippines 2010: A Business Perspective. The JFC advocates the Arangkada recommendations with leading Philippine business groups including ECOP, FINEX, MAP, MBC, PCCI, PhilExport and other trade and industry associations. The JFC conducts its advocacy through roundtable discussions, policy briefs, press releases, the Arangkada website, and more. For example, Arangkada was instrumental in supporting the passage of the CREATE More Act to increase foreign direct investments (FDI), and amendments to the Public Service Act to allow for full foreign ownership in telecommunications, airports, and other public services, which has been critical to attracting FDI and fostering economic competitiveness. Arangkada Philippines serves as a bridge between diverse industries, the government, and civil society. By aligning priorities, creating collaborative dialogues, and harnessing the expertise of both local and foreign stakeholders, the initiative has demonstrated its ability to drive tangible policy reforms and advocate for transformative change.
Arangkada Philippines Forum
The Arangkada Philippines Forum is Joint Foreign Chamber’s annual flagship event, which was established in 2012. Since then, it has become a premier platform to assemble government officials, business leaders, industry experts, investors, diplomats, members of the international development community, and media to discuss reforms to improve the Philippine investment climate.