Mandaue biz community aims to boost countryside economy   

Aside from encouraging companies to adopt creative and newer approaches to endure the economic difficulties, the Mandaue Business Month 2008, which will kick off next month, aims to reach out for countryside communities to gain fiscal strength.

In a formal launch yesterday held at the City Sports Club, Mandaue Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI) president Eric Ng Mendoza said that one of the objectives of the month-long business event is to spread Mandaue’s industrial strength to the 47 municipalities in the Cebu province.

MBM 2008 takes in a P2 million financial support from the Provincial Government as formally announced by Governor Gwen Garcia yesterday.

“We will make the Mandaue Business Month the biggest, most relevant, and most significant business event in the history of Cebu ,” Garcia said in his brief speech.

This year’s MBM has allocated a budget of P10 million for the different business activities within the month. Mandaue City Mayor Jonas Cortes earlier announced a P1 million support as Mandaue City hosts for the first time the 17th Visayas Area Business Conference on August 15.

Carrying the theme “Accelerating Growth” amid the double-digit inflation and skyrocketing fuel prices, Mendoza said creative approaches should be introduced to the companies in order to weather several difficulties.

At the same time, he said the MBM 2008 will serve as a vehicle for the 47 municipalities in Cebu province to showcase their respective strengths, in order to stimulate investors’ interest especially in tourism related projects.

“We will be encouraging people from the urban centers, to look at opportunities in the countryside. Tourism for one is an interesting investment to venture into in the countryside areas,” Mendoza said.

Although each local government unit (LGU) will be showcasing their top products of their respective towns, areas for good investment opportunities will also be presented during the “Obra Negosyo Expo Cebu,” trade exhibit, scheduled on August 8 to 15 at the Cebu International Convention Center (CICC).

On the other hand, Mendoza said the MCCI is willing to commit support for the Cebu Countryside Business Upliftment project of the Cebu Provincial government, helping micro-entrepreneurs in the different municipalities expand their operations, and establish sound business sector organizations in their areas.

Mendoza said the chamber is one with the Governor’s vision to spur economic activities not only in the urban centers but also in other towns in Cebu.