If asked for their favorite luxury car, automotive enthusiasts will certainly name Italian supercars like Audi, Porsche, and Lamborghini. These automobiles have been synonymous with pure opulence for its sleek designs and innovative technology. Bringing these cars in the country is possible with the service of Prudential Guarantee & Assurance (PGA) and Chairman and CEO Robert Coyiuto Jr. He recently earned The Official Order of the Star of Italy for his service of strengthening diplomatic relations between Italy and the Philippines. To celebrate, Undersecretary of State for Foreign Affairs of Italy Manlio Di Stefano visited Manila. The night was filled with meaningful conversations from powerful and influential people in the government and the business industry.
Equivalent to Knighthood
Chairman and CEO of PGA Cars Robert Coyiuto Jr. celebrated his recent knighthood. Undersecretary of State for Foreign Affairs of Italy Manlio Di Stefano and Italian Ambassador Giorgio Guglielmino awarded Robert The Official Order of the Star of Italy. The award is initially a post-war reconstruction. Yet it eventually shifted to emphasizing the promotion of national prestige abroad and relations of Italy to other countries. The Republic of Italy considers this as the highest recognition. Hence, for Robert to receive this award is certainly an important milestone for him and for the country.
Described as “Stock Market Kingpin,” Robert was one of the first incorporators of the Philippine Stock Exchange in 1992. Eventually, he grew his family’s insurance business and expanded into other ventures like real estate and air transport. Yet Robert is most known for bringing Lamborghini to the country in 2012. Since then, PGA Cars has been the sole importer and distributor of Italian supercars like Audi, Porsche, and recently, British brand Bentley. This service of Robert further cements the diplomatic relations between Italy and the Philippines.
A meaningful history
Since 1947, the Philippines and Italy created agreements on different sectors. From investments, transportation and communication initiatives, to technical cooperation, the two countries benefitted from the partnership. Last year, Italian exports to the country amounted to almost 662.5 million euros. On the other hand, Italy imports from the Philippines equated to 255.5 million euros. Both import and exports primarily involve food, electronics, and apparel.
The figures show there is potential growth in the relationship between the two countries. It taps into infrastructure projects, pharmaceuticals, machinery, and automotive industry. Both countries anticipate the realization of these potentials, especially for the modernization of the Philippines.
