Beyond dealing with pressing business matters in their ultra­ competitive world,the European Chamber of Commerce in the Philippines (ECCP) is also more than willing to share their knowledge and skills with their younger counterparts via the ECCP's Young Professionals Chamber (YPC). The YPC is comprised of270 mostly Manila based youths aged 18­-35, looking to be mentored by the ECCP s Board ofDirectors (BOD) regarding traditional business methods and practices in various entrepreneurial fields.In an exclusive interview, ECCP President Gunther Taus told Expat that each member of the BOD mentors two aspiring entrepreneurs as business consultants, minus any form of financial assistance from both parties."We also introduce the youth to useful contacts who can also help them further their business. We do not spoon­feed them every step of the way, but meet them a few times a month for regular updates", he told this reporter on the sidelines of the Crisscrossings event held at the ECCP Cebu office.Taus added that the BOD is a mix of European and Filipino businessmen who share their time and knowledge with the community. The president of the YPC also holds a BOD seat during ECCP meetings.

Future plans: 

He observed that there are actually very few real entrepreneurs among millennials, which brought the need for professional consultants who can guide them in their business endeavors and provide sound advice to smoothen the start-up process. Asked about the possibility of creating a counterpart body in Cebu, he expressed optimism on the matter, adding that he sees Cebu as avery vibrant market with lots of potential among the youth. "We have concentrated too much on indigenous groups before. We look forward to establishing contacts among the youth counterparts in Cebu. On a higher scale, we will also focus on the more advanced sectors with help from the Europe­ Philippine Business Movement, which will link counterparts from both countries, "he declared.Priority sectors for a business exchange program include tourism, food and beverage, agriculture,assembly and manufacturing, among others.In the future programs, European technology will be utilized in the Philippine setting, while Filipino companies will learn more about their European counterparts.