GE Innovation Day: Global success with a local focus

PICTURE a Philippines where renewable energy powers even the most remote homes in the archipelago, where mass transportation offers safe, cheaper alternatives and greener solutions to the environment, and quality healthcare that is accessible to all. These are all possible, and the answer lies in innovation and synergy. It is where ideas, such as GE founder Thomas Edison's light bulb, are developed into breakthrough technology and constantly improved to fit the needs of the consumer.

This was a vision shared by GE executives and the leaders of different fields in the country, during GE Innovation Day held recently at the Shangri-la Hotel in Makati City. The event commenced with a forum led by keynote speaker John Rice, GE vice chairman and president and CEO of Global Growth and Operations. Rice and the GE team met with GE customers representing major sectors in Philippine business and industry. The forum, with the theme "Making the World Work Better through Synergy and Innovation," presented an opportunity for sharing goals and best practices towards the country's growth and development. Photo shows GE business leaders with Mr. and Mrs. John G. Rice (3rd and 4th from left).

This central idea was underscored in the keynote address, as Rice talked about the history that the company shares with the Philippines. "We are proud of our history, and we also feel that we should be doing more; to create more capabilities in order to be a bigger and better part of this country," he said. Rice noted the current economic growth and the government's focus on transparency. The challenge he explained "is to find an optimal configuration from an organizational perspective for a global company, while acting as a Philippine company every day. It is about making our global strengths local."