MOSCOW, RUSSIA — Delegates of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) and the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Russian Federation gathered on Thursday, May 25, at the Four Seasons Hotel here with Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez at the helm to build up confidence in robust trade and business prospects of signed agreements between the two countries.

Lopez spoke to represent Philippine President Rodrigo Roa Duterte, who had to cut short his visit to Russia, following the eruption of violence in Marawi City.

“We want to assure everybody that government is in control of the situation and it is business as usual,” Lopez said before hundreds of businessmen in Russia.

He noted the robust economy in the Philippines and continued confidence of the people in President Duterte’s administration despite the situation in Mindanao.

Deputy Minister Alexander Tsybulsky of the Ministry of Economic Development of the Russian Federation welcomed the Filipino delegation and conveyed condolences and understanding of the emergency situation in the Philippines.

The business forum celebrated the signing of agreements between the two chambers with George Barcelon of the PCCI, Presidential Consultant on Entrepreneurship Joey Concepcion, and Secretary Fortunato dela Peña of the Department of Science and Technology among the witnesses.

Describing the Philippines as a “bright spot in Asia,” Lopez shared the Duterte administration’s economic program, which goal is to empower the country’s micro, small, and medium enterprises and provide more job opportunities for the people.

In summary, Lopez said the economic program of the Duterte administration ultimately seeks to bring “growth and prosperity and better economic life for all Filipinos.” ###PND