LONDON - The Philippine Trade and Investment Center-London recently organized a business forum in Edinburgh to lay the groundwork for closer business ties between the Philippines and Scotland.

The PTIC-London said the Philippines has successfully positioned itself as a highly attractive business and investment destination due to its economic resilience and sustainable economic gains. It said the country’s enormous human and natural resources are an added bonus for investors.

The business forum focused on promoting foreign investments and joint business opportunities for Scottish companies in the Philippines in renewable energy and other priority sectors such as IT and Business Support (Outsourcing), infrastructure development and the BOT scheme and mining.

The forum offered key presentations delivered by officials from the PTIC-London and the Embassy of the Philippines to the United Kingdom.

Third Secretary and Economic Officer Vice-Consul Emmanuel Guzman of the Philippine Embassy delivered an economic overview of the Philippines while Investment and Trade Representative Vicente Casim of PTIC- London provided an introduction on doing business in the Philippines.

Commercial Attache & Director Michael Alfred Ignacio gave more specific details on opportunities in renewable energy and other priority sectors for investment and business cooperation between the Philippines and Scotland.

The business forum was sponsored by the 160-year-old Scottish firm Morton Fraser based in Edinburgh (www.mortonfraser.com). It attracted some 24 individuals from various business sectors such as the Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce, the Scottish Low Carbon Investment Conference organizers, and the Scottish Development Council.

Pioneering renewable energy R&D groups were also present in addition to various Renewable Energy companies based in Scotland.