Expat transitions made easy

The relatively low cost of doing business in the Philippines coupled with an affordable and comfortable lifestyle continue to attract foreign businesses to the country, according to an informal survey of expats based at the Oakwood Premier Ayala Center and other executives of various nationalities operating in Makati.

Dr. Mike Clancy, chairman of the Philippine Business Leader’s Forum, said, “The Philippines is considered a low-cost environment in which to develop the Asian market. During the start-up phase the base cost of doing business in the country is lower than Hong Kong. At the same time, it is centrally located within easy access of all other Asian cities.”

“Moreover, where else in Asia can you find dive spots, restaurants and other lifestyle amenities at such reasonable rates,” he added.

The staff of Oakwood’s serviced offices offers to free the executive, whether he is an expat or a local, from the less pressing details of establishing a new office in unfamiliar surroundings. They offer fully furnished rooms complete with desks, space for files and equipment, two telephone lines with modem connections and DID lines. Oakwood can likewise look for secretaries and messengers as well as provide briefs on the current political situation courtesy of the Philippine Forum of MCA, the country associate of the Economist Corporate Network.

All these conveniences are fully appreciated by Larry Asera, a recognized pioneer in the area of photovoltaics, the science of converting sunlight into electricity through the use of silicon solar cells. Based in California, Asera is setting up a 6.67-megawatt solar power plant in Puerto Princesa and hopes to set up more facilities in other parts of the country. He has been able to keep in close touch with his headquarters abroad from the serviced offices and has had the flexibility of expanding his space as his Philippine project takes root.

According to Oakwood’s business center consultant Loudette Tanjuatco, clients of the serviced offices fully enjoy this kind of flexibility. For this and other reasons, the secretariat of the Australian-New Zealand Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines, for instance, has held office at the Oakwood since 1998.

In addition, the complex is a short walk from most of the top 100 mutinational and Philippine corporations.