Economy

The year 2019 marks the halfway point of President Rodrigo Duterte’s six-year term in office, following his inauguration in June 2016. The Philippines’ GDP has increased by more than 6% per year since 2012, making inclusive growth and the reduction of income inequality top priorities for the current administration.

While 2018 is unlikely to be remembered as a period of cooperation on global trade, the year did end on a note of cautious optimism for its advocates when, at the G20 summit in Buenos Aires, the US declared a 90-day truce in its 10-month-long trade war with China. Observers hoped that this ceasefire would endure beyond the proposed three-month...

In December 2017 the Philippines reached a major reform milestone when President Rodrigo Duterte officially approved the first of five Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) packages as part of the Comprehensive Tax Reform Programme (CTRP). Initially planned to roll out in 2019, the second stage of the TRAIN initiative, the Tax...

With strong economic growth, an expanding population and an increasingly sophisticated internal market, the Philippines is one of Asia Pacific’s brightest investment opportunities. Concerted efforts to reform taxes, improve the ease of doing business and shore up capital markets are under way, while inflation is back under control and a major...

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ETIQUETTE: It is customary to exchange handshakes when introducing yourself; however, it is important to allow members of the opposite sex to extend their hand to initiate the handshake. It is also not uncommon to see men greet each other with kisses on both cheeks. The dress code during business meetings is professional and...