At the recently-concluded World Economic Forum (WEF) annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland, Kevin Tan, chief executive officer of Alliance Global Group Inc. (AGI) enthusiastically described the Philippine participation in the largest gathering of global leaders as historic, especially coming after two years of the pandemic.
“In that process, there’s so much realization that what is needed is global cooperation,” Tan told an interview by RTV-Malacanang on the sidelines of the WEF meetings on January 16.
Tan said the Philippine attendance to the WEF meeting also sent “a very strong signal that the country is open for business. “This is a good chance for us to showcase the growth story of the Philippines as a country,” he said in the interview.
“We’re into real estate, we’re in tourism as well, and more importantly we also have global
operations through our distilled spirits company. We have operations in UK, we have operations in Spain, and we have operations in Mexico as well. So, in a way, we are a Filipino company with a very strong global presence”
That he and six other heads of the Philippines’ largest corporations were in Davos to join the Philippine delegation also indicates, according to Tan, “…that we are here trying to bring in really important investments.”
For Tan, the WEF is important for the country and for his company as well.
“This forum is very important for a company like ours. There’s a lot of meetings on the sidelines. There’s a lot of things you can learn, but also the partnerships and cooperation that have been created from this particular platform,” Tan said in the RTVM-Malacanang interview.
AGI as a local company with international presence through its spirits business , Emperador, knows whereof it speaks.
“We’re into real estate, we’re in tourism as well, and more importantly we also have global operations through our distilled spirits company. We have operations in UK, we have operations in Spain, and we have operations in Mexico as well. So, in a way, we are a Filipino company with a very strong global presence,” said Tan.
He added: “We are very strongly invested in tourism and so we must also promote the Philippines,” referring to AGI subsidiary Travellers International Hotel Group which pushes integrated tourism.
Tan, a graduate of the University of Asia and the Pacific with a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration major in Management, took over as CEO of AGI in 2018 and holds various positions in the listed company’s subsidiaries in real estate development, tourism-entertainment and gaming, food and beverage, and quick-service restaurant businesses in the Philippines and internationally.
AGI is the parent company of Megaworld, Emperador, AGILE Digital/Pickaroo & Travellers/Newport World Resorts, and partner of Golden Arches Development Corp. (McDonald’s Philippines).
“Alliance Global Group Inc. is in the business of helping create a more progressive Philippines. The future of our country is hinged on our ability to embrace innovation, connect to on-demand customers, grow our shared economy, and make a lasting social impact”
Tan previously held the position of senior vice president for Commercial Division of Megaworld which markets and operates the Megaworld Lifestyle Malls . Tan was largely credited for growing the Group’s footprint in the retail property business.
Tan currently serves executive vice president and corporate strategy officer of Megaworld.
Last week, Tan was named the honorary mayor of the City of Bacolod, location of its two townships.
In accepting the honorary title, Tan said the prestigious distinction “will inspire us more at Megaworld Corp. in catalyzing economic development through high-impact projects and world-class developments that will take this progressive city to even greater heights.”
“Alliance Global Group Inc. is in the business of helping create a more progressive Philippines. The future of our country is hinged on our ability to embrace innovation, connect to on-demand customers, grow our shared economy, and make a lasting social impact,” Tan said in the company’s website.
