RP boosts competitive ranking, now 40th

The Swiss-based organization Institute of Management Development (IMD) has ranked the Philippines 40th among a total of 55 countries in its 2008 World Competitiveness Yearbook.

The country’s ranking significantly improved from last year when it was ranked 45th among competitors in the world economy.

The IMD is the world’s most renowned and comprehensive annual report on the competitiveness of nations, ranking and analyzing how a nation’s environment creates and sustains the competitiveness of enterprises. Over the years, the yearbook has become a key reference for international investors, analysts, and decision-makers in assessing country performance.

The yearbook’s complete findings will be presented in a public forum today at the SM Mall of Asia’s SMX Convention Center in Pasay City.

The forum on the “State of Philippine Competitiveness 2008 National Conference: Philippines at the Crossroads of Competitiveness” is organized by the Asian Institute of Management Policy Center.

Among the government officials invited to speak in the forum are Science and Technology Undersecretary Fortunato dela Peña and Marikina City Mayor Maria Lourdes Fernando.

National Competitiveness Council (NCC) co-chairman and former Ambassador to the United Kingdom Cesar Bautista will also present an update on efforts to improve the country’s global competitiveness.

The potential of the nation’s creative industries as drivers for improvement will also be highlighted in a panel discussion, with participants such as Cultural Center of the Philippines president Nestor Jardin and renowned film director Marilou Diaz-Abaya.

About 200 participants from the business sector, diplomatic corps, international organizations, national government agencies, NGOs, and academe are expected to grace the event.

Since 1996, the AIM Policy Center has annually contributed to the World Competitiveness Yearbook published by the IMD. –Helen Flores, from Philippine Star