CCCI sets study tour, trade mission to Seoul

The Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) will lead a four-day study tour and trade mission to Seoul, Korea next month.

The mission, scheduled on April 21 to 24, 2008, aims to promote and develop trade links between the Philippines and Korea to pave way for business and investment opportunities that would be beneficial for both countries.

CCCI yesterday announced that the delegation plans to meet with Kan Nam Goo, one of the business organizations in Korea. The Philippine Embassy in Seoul South Korea Ambassador Luis Cruz will host the Cebu delegation.

A Cebu-Seoul Investment Forum with the board of directors & members of the Korean Chamber of Commerce & Industry (KCCI) will be conducted. There will also be a one-on-one business matching with Korea Importer’s Association and a business meeting with the Korea Trade Association (KOTRA), a group of investors in Korea . The mission also includes company visits and a tour to some of the famous tourism landmarks in Seoul, South Korea.

The Educational Development Foundation for Information Technology (Cedfit), is helping CCCI in organizing this study and trade mission to Korea.

The mission is comprised of delegates from various Cebu businesses spearheaded by Chito Recamadas of Intellicare, and CCCI Cebu-Seoul Business Council Chairman.

Among the delegates are members of the CCCI Board of Trustees: Felix Taguiam of DECO Sales, Inc.; Nelson Bascones of Central Seafoods, Inc.;Daniel Arcenas of Handumanan Development Corporation; and Apollo Enriquez of A.S. Enriquez Engineering.

Other delegates include:Rodrigo Tañeda of Cebu Supergro Products; Chonita Cejas of Icomm Philippines, Inc.; Commissioner Alfonso Alerre of Cebu Port Authority; Atty. Tomas Riveral and Democrito Mendoza, Jr. of Oriental Port & Allied Services Corporation (OPASCOR) and a representative from Cebu File Systems.

Meanwhile, there are six delegates representing the I.T. group headed by CEDFIT president Jose Mari Bigornia.

In an earlier interview with Consul of Korea to Cebu Augusto Go, he said that it is important for Cebu to forge a good relationship with trade and commerce players in Korea, as the country is seen to be a good market for Cebu condominium products.

Koreans, who are the top one market of tourism in Cebu, as well as in other parts of the Philippines, are also a good market for condo units, Go said.

In fact, most Koreans who are residing here for educational purposes, specifically English language, are the largest tenants of condominiums here, and apartments.

According to Go, Korea is a good market to tap for our condominium units, as interest of this market is very high.

Likewise, Korean investors have started to invest in condominium and resort projects in Cebu, to take advantage of the high interest of Koreans to travel in tropical areas like Cebu.