CCCI to pursue aggressive branding campaign in 2008

After it bagged the “hall of fame” award from the national business community, Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) will focus on branding campaign next year, to preserve its strength as the voice of Cebuano business sector.

CCCI president Francis O. Monera said aggressive branding programs will be formulated at the start of 2008 to establish a good CCCI packaging to create a good national and international name.

Monera said the chamber has already created a “branding committee” chaired by exporter Jay Yuvallos, this group will position the chamber to be a good example in all chamber of commerce in the Philippines, for its good service extended to its members, and successful undertakings.

The Chamber is already identified with its iconic elements such as the organizer of internationally-known Cebu Business Month (CBM), the proponent of Cebu Economic Development Zone (CEDZ) bill, among others.

The branding committee will soon identify the steps to be made in order to build a good CCCI packaging or branding, this will be one of the major focuses that will be undertaken by the chamber in 2008.

“It is important that the Chamber will know its positioning,” Monera said, especially that it has started its international campaign early this year, to invite international participants to the CBM celebration.

There are a few elements that will be given extra attention in the CCCI branding, these are to live-up to its name as the model Business Support Organization (BSO) in the country, strengthening CCCI sub-brands like the CBM, and helping to market Cebu as the premier tourism and investment site in the country.

“We don’t sell Cebu. We market Cebu. The art of marketing is through branding. Cebu is not a commodity, it is a brand,” Monera said.

After his term as CCCI president, he said he is committed to establish a good branding program with the chamber, so that future set of officers will be able to take care of the CCCI’s brand name and take care of CCCI’s strength.

In service to its members, Monera said the chamber will have to see to it that it will meet the members’ expectation in terms of support.

With the strong globalization trend, Monera said CCCI will pursue more activities with determination, in order to trail blaze with international demands.

This year, the chamber started its international roadshow, to promote Cebu to the global market, initially in Asia, with emphasis on inviting business community in different countries to visit Cebu during the CBM celebrations.

The chamber started its international promotion campaign to Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong, China, and other countries.

Also, it started with aggressive trade mission initiatives primary promoting close trade relations with other countries, like Russia, Europe, and in Dally City in United States.