Dumaguete to showcase ICT competency in biz gathering

Over 200 businessmen from all over the country, mostly from the Visayas will converge in Dumaguete City this coming June 16 to 17, for the Visayas Area Business Conference.

According to Negros Oriental Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NOCCI) president Ernesto C. Quiamco, the two-day event will carry the theme "One Visayas. One Vision. One Vibrant Economy."

Through the hosting of Dumaguete City of this one of the largest businessmen conference in the Visayas, Dumaguete will have the opportunity to showcase its ability to accommodate Information and Communication Technology, as well as tourism related investments, Quiamco said.

Like Cebu, Negros Oriental is also pushing the ICT and Tourism as their emerging economic drivers, including the agri-business.

Quiamco said the holding of this event, which will be held at Silliman University, will give investors opportunity to see the capabilities of Dumaguete City, and the entire province of Negros Oriental in terms of ICT, tourism, and agri-business investments.

The province, he said has now started to gain interest from the Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) investors, because of its ample supply of highly skilled human resource.

"We have the best university here. Establishments of IT Parks are now on the pipeline," said Quiamco in an interview.

There are now four BPO companies operating in Dumaguete City, these are the SPI Technology, TeleTech call center, Eutheos Medical Transcription, and a software development company.

The Visayas Area Business Conference, organized by the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI), is an annual meeting of businessmen not only from the Visayas, but also from other areas in the country, to update the business and economic developments in the Visayas area.

According to PCCI governor for the Visayas Jose Ng, over a dozen businessmen from Cebu will be joining the two-day event, which will also hold trade fair, franchising exposition and business matching.

Joey Salceda, Albay representative, and Presidential adviser for economic affairs will be the keynote speaker, and is expected to talk on topic entitled "Visayas and Philippine Financial and Economic Outlook in the next Three Years."

Break out sessions will tackle tourism, food packaging, eServices and franchising opportunities in the Visayas, Quiamco said.