Good foreign relations key to forge trade links

In the light of the softening foreign economies, Mandaue Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI) recently concluded three foreign trade missions to discover and explore new possibilities in opening trading ties with new markets abroad.

“Our recent trade missions were done to develop partnerships and new markets as well as attract further foreign investments here in Cebu,” said MCCI president Eric Ng Mendoza.

Last September 22 to October 3, MCCI officers went with other delegates from Cebu’s local government unit, academe, and private sector to flew to Russia and visited Moscow, Vladimir Oblast and St. Petersburg.

While on October 13 to 16, they went to Kota Kinabalu in Sabah, Malaysia to meet with local traders and government representatives.

And last October 27 to 29 they had a trade visit to Taipei, Taiwan to check out the facilities of Formosa and Global Business Power, Taiwanese energy power providers who have on-going consortium with Aboitiz Power to build a power plant in Toledo to be completed in 2010.

Mendoza said that they had achieved several things in their recent travels to these three different countries.

He said that in Russia, they were able to ink open trade relations agreement with the Vladimir Region Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

MCCI signed a memorandum of understanding with the Vladimir Chamber which was facilitated through the help of Honorary Consul to the Russian Federation Armi Garcia.

Vladimir is one of Russia’s oldest communities with main industries that include machine engineering, power engineering chemical production, construction materials and food processing.

The MOU stipulated MCCI and VCCI will work together towards the promotion and development of commercial exchanges that will benefit interests of both chambers, said Mendoza.

Activities both chambers agreed on included information exchanges that will provide them possibilities to promote their products and services which encompass market studies, network contacts from various sectors, market updates and support for trade fairs and exhibits.

Meanwhile in Sabah, MCCI was able to explore tourism linkages and also did networking with Filipinos that are doing trade in the area.

“Instead of going to traditional markets, our thrust is to diversify our reach, explore potentials and go to countries less affected with the global financial crises to seek greener opportunities,” he said.

Mendoza further added that their exploratory trade missions also served as their gateway to promote Cebu as a promising destination for both business investments and tourism to the global scene.

“We told the people we met in these missions about what Cebu can offer in terms of tourism and trade and we have noticed that they also have interests to establish links with Asian countries,” he said.

Mendoza revealed that this year end, they will be having another trade mission in the Gulf region together with President Gloria- Macapagal Arroyo.