Forum focuses on key role of transport in ecommerce

POSTED BY: Lionell Go Macahilig
2019-05-21 13:06:00 PHT

At the forum titled "Fintech April Mixer" staged by the Fintech Philippines Association (FPh), AngkasHead of Regulatory and Public Affairs George Royeca led the panelists in the discussion of their vision of a more financially-inclusive Philippines where smaller entrepreneurs can use their platform to scale up their businesses. 

Held at The Ark in Makati City, the forum gathered some of the industry's major players under one roof to highlight the role of transport and logistics in ecommerce and the entire digital economy. Angkas's participation as an adviser to FPh's board of trustees and forum panelist is relevant, being the first app-based motorcycle ride-hailing service in the country.

"Fintech and ecommerce are largely interdependent because fintech provides online payment platforms that allow ecommerce to thrive," Royeca said. "Without fintech and payment innovations, global ecommerce will not grow as much as it did in recent years."

"The teching up of small ecommerce players in the country is something that we Angkas, in our capacity as adviser to Fintech Philippines, will recommend as a priority undertaking for the near future," Royeca added.

FPh is composed of Justo Ortiz of Unionbank as chairman, Mark Vernon of TagCash as vice chairman and treasurer, Mark Gorriceta of Gorriceta Africa Cauton & Saavedra as corporate secretary, Amor Maclang of GeiserMaclang Marketing Communications Inc. as executive director and trustee. Other trustees include Arvie De Vera of Unionbank, Edison Tsai of Seedin Technologies Inc., Ida Tiongson of Opal Portfolio Investments, and Gerry Cruz.

Other panelists that were present in the forum include Ronald Rodriguez, Founder/CEO, Beebeelee; Steve Sy, Founder/CEO, Great Deals E-commerce Corporation; Au Soriano, Founder/CEO, Pinoy Travel; Archit Anand, Founder, Omnirio; and MJ Panganiban of Dragonpay as moderator.

FPh executive director and trustee Amor Maclang, in turn, underscored fintech's role in shaping global ecommerce. "Fintech Philipines Association strives to promote all ecommerce players, and recognize all contributions to global and micro ecommerce players by creating access to the constant development and improvement of online payment systems," Maclang said. 

"Our mission in Fintech Philippines is the democratization and access to the technologies by allowing online merchants and service providers to also target as many people as possible through safe and secure means," she added. 

The Fintech Philippines Association is the largest and most inclusive association that promotes digital entrepreneurship in the country.