Philippine Business Magazine: Volume 14 No. 2 - Forecast

OBG Comes to Town

The Oxford Business Group sets their sights on the Philippines

By Michael B. Mundo

A London-based print and online provider of world-class economic and political intelligence on Eastern Europe, North and South Africa, the Middle East, and Asia has decided to include the Philippines among the countries it recommends to foreign investors.

The Oxford Business Group first considered including the Philippines in its countries of focus in 2005, but it is the country’s current improved economic situation that finally convinced OBG to fly in. The Philippines is the latest economy that will now be covered by the group’s flagship publication, The Report, and OBG country director Caroline Couronne points out that their publications “are considered to be among the most prestigious economic intelligence annuals” in the world.

Philippines Sourcebook

Josh Franken, OBG country editor for the Philippines, explains the country analysis of political and economic trends in the Philippines will highlight “how foreign businessmen and investors can operate in the Philippines and will help create greater international visibility for the country’s attractiveness as a business hub for investors.” In line with this project, a team composed of 6 to 10 international analysts from OBG is expected to be visiting Manila beginning April.

The Report: Philippines 2008 will feature overviews, analyses, trends, outlooks, and interviews by experts in the areas of politics, macroeconomics, banking, capital markets, industry, law, insurance, energy, construction and real estate, IT, telecommunications, tourism, agriculture, mining, and accountancy.

The publication’s macroeconomic review will cover inflation, growth, debt, trade, and the current account, as well as contain an analytical and statistical presentation on the next three years. The 200-page report will also include a country profile, a travel guide, and a list of key contact numbers. It will have an online version that will be made available on a pay-per-chapter basis.

Strategic partners

OBG’s Caroline Couronne and Josh Franken

The Oxford Business Group partners with institutions all over the world in compiling its signature series of top-level country assessments. It combines its international expertise with the on-the-ground knowledge of world-class, locally based institutions to produce first-rate market intelligence.

In the Philippines, OBG has tied up with the Makati Business Club (publisher of Philippine Business) as its research partner. In analyzing the legal and legislative framework in the Philippines, it has tapped one of the country’s leading law firms, ACCRALAW. In the business guide to accounting procedures, the analysis will be provided by another OBG partner, the top-notch Punongbayan and Araullo.

With pre-publication orders expected to reach 65,000 copies worldwide and 16,500 locally, The Report: Philippines 2008 will become the largest English-language publication ever published on the Philippines. It promises to deliver extensive independent, unbiased, and accurate intelligence on the Philippines. Couronne expects the book, which will be printed in Istanbul, Turkey, to be launched late this year.

Other publications

In addition to the comprehensive report, OBG also releases weekly intelligence updates on the Philippines through the Online Economic and Political Briefings.

The first volume of Online Briefings was entitled “Philippines: Getting Started.” It presented investment prospects for the Philippines in the areas of mining, infrastructure, and the development of energy resources. Henry Schumacher, president of the European Chamber of Commerce in the Philippines served as the resource person for the first volume.

The second volume of Online Briefings, which is also available to subscribers via email, was entitled “Rising Remittances.” It cited the role of overseas Filipino worker remittances in transforming large trade deficits into current account surpluses in the country’s balance of payments. On the other hand, the report also cites World Bank country director Joachim von Amsberg about the “economic and social costs” of having huge numbers of Filipinos working abroad.

The most recent volume of Online Briefings is entitled “Philippines: Enterprise Initiative.” It outlines additional government initiatives to lend to small- and medium-sized enterprises, which compose the backbone of the Philippine economy. Benel Lagua, president and COO of the Small Business Guarantee and Finance Corporation, is quoted as a resource person.