Amb. Yujuico unanimously voted new PCCI president
AMBASSADOR Benedicto V. Yujuico has been elected as the new president of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI), the country’s largest business organization.
He was unanimously elected by the incoming 20-member board of directors of the PCCI during the recent PCCI Annual Meeting held last December 6, 2019.
The newly elected directors are: Sergio OrtizLuis Jr., Ma. Alegria S. Limjoco, Menardo R. Jimenez, Alfredo M. Yao, Francis C. Chua, Edgardo G. Lacson, Roberto C. Amores, Jose P. Leviste, Apolinar E. Aure, Edgard J. Sia II, Dennis A. Uy, Michael Chen, Felino A. Palafox Jr., Jeffrey T. Ng, Delia B. Jimenez (NCR), Gregoria G. Simbulan (North Luzon), Clarine P. Tobias (South Luzon), Samuel N. Chioson (Visayas) and Maria Teresa R. Alegrio (Mindanao).
Yujuico, who will occupy the position for two years, said his presidency will focus on entrepreneurship and innovation. He believes that these are essential catalysts that will supercharge the Philippine economy in the coming years. He will also initiate projects to assist local government units to implement smart city technologies that will not only improve efficiency, but reduce corruption, as well.
The new PCCI president has served as a special envoy of the President, with the rank of Ambassador for Trade Relations for Eastern Europe, then North America and Latin America.
He was president of the Confederation of AsiaPacific Chambers of Commerce and Industry (CACCI) from 2010 to 2014, the fourth Filipino president in CACCI’s 50-year history. CACCI’s members are from the Apex business organizations of 28 countries.
He said: “It is an honor to serve the PCCI, the Philippines’s biggest business organization. I hope that my experience as president of the Confederation of Asia-Pacific Chambers of Commerce and Industry will bring to PCCI the best practices of the world chamber movement. It is also my dream that through PCCI’s support of young entrepreneurs, they will not need to go find opportunities in other countries to utilize their talents, skill sets and to fulfill their ambitions.”
He started school at the De La Salle College from elementary up to third-year college. However, he got his undergraduate degree in Business and Economics at the Saint Mary’s College of California. In 1970, at the age of 23, he graduated from the Wharton Graduate School of Business with a MBA in Banking and Finance.
After Wharton, Yujuico started his business career in the San Francisco bay area. He invested in the construction and development of residential condominiums and office buildings in San Francisco, Daly City, San Mateo and Santa Clara. In the 1980s, he coinvested in start-up companies with 3M Ventures, the venture capital arm of the 3M Co. and New Enterprise Associates, (Dick Kramlich), one of the world’s largest venture capital firms. This was the starting point of Yujuico’s fascination and interest in technology.
Yujuico is currently involved in the property business through various land banking activities, joint ventures and partnerships. He has organized the Center of Innovation and Entrepreneurship, a dynamic ecosystem that provides workspace, funding, coaching, workshops and mentorship. He is also the chairman of Istana Social Development Foundation that promotes literacy among the underprivileged children by granting scholarships and constructing school buildings, particularly in isolated communities.