Maniolas

NEW YORK — Facebook is expanding its services to small businesses that want to sell to customers in other countries. The social media company said Thursday it’s adding features to its small business sites that allow companies to search for and advertise to customers in other countries. Businesses will be able to choose which countries they want to target, and can aim at customers in specific regions or the entire world. The features will be available to small businesses around the world. Sixty million businesses have Facebook pages, and more than 1 billion people using the social media site are connected to at least one business in another country, the company said. In the U.S., more than 60 percent of Facebook users are connected to a company in another country. Catalysts for the expansion included data that showed Facebook users and small businesses are increasingly engaging in cross-border transactions, the company said. It also has had requests from companies for more tools to help them expand. “The No. 1 thing they want is the ability to reach more customers,” said Sheryl Sandberg, chief operating officer of the Menlo Park, California-based company. Facebook is also providing online seminars and a handbook to help businesses that need to learn about global marketing issues. Among them: having the ability to provide enough products for any stepped-up demand, and challenges like shipping goods to other countries.

In an interview during yesterday’s opening ceremony, All Value chairman Manuel B. Villar Jr. said two more branches were expected to open before the end of the year. Plans are underway to build four to five more branches in 2017. STAR/File photo Sta. Rosa, Laguna, Philippines – The Villar Group, through its retail arm All Value Holdings Corp., is investing an additional P1.4 billion to fund the continued expansion of its All Day supermarket chain. The company opened yesterday its third branch, located in Sta. Rosa, Laguna. This followed the opening of the first two stores in Vista Mall in Taguig and Starmall Edsa-Shaw. In an interview during yesterday’s opening ceremony, All Value chairman Manuel B. Villar Jr. said two more branches were expected to open before the end of the year. Plans are underway to build four to five more branches in 2017. “Each branch may cost us about P180 million or less,” Villar told reporters. He said the sites of All Day Supermarkets are leased from Vista Malls of sister company Vista Land & Lifescapes, while the inventory is largely consigned by suppliers. Business ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1 Villar said the fourth branch, located in Vista Mall Bataan would be even bigger. It is targeted for opening this month. The fifth and last outlet to open this year will be in Vista City in Daang Hari. Target date for the opening is December. All five stores will have a total floor area of about Read More …

Protesters stage a “die-in” to dramatize the rising number of extra judicial killings related to Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte’s “War on Drugs” Friday, Aug. 26, 2016 in front of the Philippine National Police headquarters in suburban Quezon city northeast of Manila, Philippines. According to police, nearly 2,000 people, mostly suspected drug-dealers and users, have been killed in drug-related incidents since President Duterte took office June 30, 2016 and prompted Philippine senators to open an inquiry into the killings. AP/Bullit Marquez MANILA, Philippines — American investors expressed concern over the rising number of extrajudicial and vigilante killings amid the new administration’s anti-drug campaign. The American Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (AmCham) noted that the drug problem is a serious threat in the country but some investors are questioning whether the drug war reduces the rule of law. “While the country’s economic fundamentals are strong and its potential is high, our members have raised concerns that some American values—which Filipinos have long shared—may be weakening in the current environment,” the AmCham said in a statement on Thursday. The chamber noted that bilateral relations between the US and the Philippines have been strained by recent remarks of President Rodrigo Duterte against US President Barack Obama. “Although statements of regret soon followed, such words and their international policy also create investor concern,” the statement read. The White House canceled the scheduled meeting between Duterte and Obama following the former’s tirade against the American leader which came out as a personal attack. Business ( Article Read More …

Police officers stand beside bodies of victims after an explosion at a night market that has left at least 10 people dead and wounded several others in Davao city, Philippines late Friday, Sept. 2, 2016. AP Photo/Manman Dejeto   MANILA, Philippines – Domestic concerns, primarily the explosion in Davao, as well as the tiff between President Duterte and US President Barack Obama have started to spook investors, analysts said yesterday. The benchmark Philippine Stock Exchange index (PSEi) plunged 100.08 points to close at 7,619.10, while the broader All Shares index retreated 51.49 points to close at 4,542.35. The rest of the counters followed the same track except for the mining and oil, which managed to stay afloat with a 13.41-point increase at 10,695.52. Analysts said domestic concerns have started to weigh on sentiment and in the long term could further spook investors. In a report yesterday, for instance, Moody’s warned that if recent events lead to prolonged uncertainty around security or economic policy, such a development would eventually dampen business confidence and, consequently, economic outcomes. On Sept. 2, a bomb detonated in a night market in Davao City, the largest municipality in the southern region of Mindanao. Business ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1 Following the incident, President Duterte declared a “state of lawlessness” nationwide, paving the way for heightened security measures, including the stepped-up deployment of soldiers and policemen in key areas. Moody’s said the near-term sovereign credit impact of these developments is limited as we do Read More …

Presidential consultant for entrepreneurship Joey Concepcion with Tan Sri Dato’ Dr. Mohd Munir Bin Adbul Majid, chairman of ASEAN-BAC Malaysia; Christine Lagarde, managing director of International Monetary Fund; and Oudet Souvannavong, chairman of ASEAN BAC. The theme of this year’s ASEAN Business and Investment Summit (ABIS) in Vientiane, Laos, of which I had the privilege of attending, is “Operationalizing AEC – Turning Vision into Reality.”  ABIS is ASEAN’s premier annual business and investment event and is currently hosted by Laos. AEC, or ASEAN Economic Cooperation, is an ongoing concern that is close to my father’s heart.   Aside from being known for NAMFREL, I can still remember my dad JoeCon being active in the ASEAN Chambers of Commerce and Industry (ASEAN-CCI).  He was named founding chairman of the ASEAN Business Advisory Council (ASEAN-BAC) Philippines, with Miguel Varela and Rose Teodoro as fellow council members. This was his passion and many of the council members are his good friends. He was one of the senior members in the council. I am glad to have the same passion that my dad had. During the summit, I was appointed as the new chair for the ASEAN-BAC Philippines. I am honored. This is a big role to take on, but I am willing and look forward to the things we can do for the country. Next year, the Philippines will host the ASEAN Summit to be led by President Rodrigo Duterte who has been recognized by the regional leaders for his political will. He was warmly received Read More …