In business, there's always a silver lining

Despite the global economic uncertainty brought about by the imposition of tariffs by the United States—which many countries are still trying to figure out how to navigate, similar to what we are doing—I, like many who have been in business, believe that there is always a silver lining in any difficult or challenging situation.

- AMBASSADOR B. ROMUALDEZ

This positive perspective was bolstered during the four-day US-ASEAN Business Council (USABC) Business Mission to the Philippines led by Ambassador Ted Osius. USABC brought their largest ever business delegation composed of some of the biggest companies in the United States, engaging with the administration's economic team, senior officials across key government agencies, legislators, business leaders and other major stakeholders.

During the USABC engagement with the Department of Foreign Affairs where I joined Secretary Tess Lazaro and US Ambassador to the Philippines Mary Kay Carlson as resource persons, Ambassador Osius reiterated the group's continuing confidence in the Philippines' growth story, and shared the excitement of US companies about opportunities and the possibilities that exist in the Philippines on various sectors that include technology, defense, artificial intelligence, food and agriculture, pharmaceuticals, infrastructure and digitalization.

"Our companies are committed. They're here because they believe in the future of the Philippines. They're investing because they believe that the Philippines is headed towards the right direction," Ambassador Osius said, adding that Fortune 500 companies have been investing in the Philippines for a long time because they found that it was "the most hospitable place to get going."

Ambassador Osius also cited government reforms such as the "ease of doing business" that he noted has "improved remarkably," adding that "the government's commitment to resolving problems is really unmatched in the region."