25 bizmen to showcase RP's edge in Macau trade mission

CEBU, Philippines - Looking at establishing potential trade partnerships, around 25 local businessmen from different sectors in Cebu left for Macau yesterday for a trade mission organized by the Trade and Investment Promotion Institute of Macau (IPIM) along with the Philippine Consulate.

The trade mission was organized under the banner of the Cebu and Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) and composed of businessmen from the manufacturing and exporting, business process outsourcing, food importing and catering service, freight and forwarding, retailing, importing, real estate, as well as marketing and advertising.

In an interview prior to the delegate’s departure, Bureau of Investments (BOI) governor Geronimo Sta. Ana said that they are expecting to establish trade links with businessmen in Macau. Sta. Ana will be delivering a presentation on the potential investment opportunities and latest statistics in doing business in the Philippines and in Cebu.

“We may establish, maybe not much on investments, but opportunities for partnerships which is more of trade in nature between our delegates and local businessmen from Macau,” he said.

Sta. Ana said that he will present latest updates on investing in the Philippines which now carries the government’s contingent programs to help address the requirements of companies which are affected by the economic crisis.

He said that the presentation will showcase proposed incentives to investors that continue to do business in the Philippines and are constantly training and maintaining their people despite the negative outlooks of the world economy.

“We now give incentives to them and we are relaxing the rules of practices and requirements to help these companies bridge over their operations until next year. This is giving out extra help to those affected by the crisis,” said Sta. Ana.

He also shared that domestic companies are now given bigger government incentives compared to previous years where they are given less.

Sta. Ana will also present investment opportunities in Cebu and he brought with him materials from Cebu Investment and Promotions Center with latest updates aimed at attracting possible investments from Macau.—Rhia de Pablo

“We do not know if we can get investments from and to Cebu but through the organized business matching session, we hope our local businessmen can tie up with investors and potential partners form Macau,” said Sta. Ana.

According to Carmel de Pio-Salvador, the chairperson of the CCCI Trade mission to Macau, they have brought with them samples of Cebu’s one-town-one product like sinamay, native delicacies from Titay’s as well as products from Cebu like our dried mangoes to look for potential interested traders and buyers in Macau.

She said that amidst the threats of the AH1N1 flu virus, they continue to be optimistic that positive outcome will come about with their trade mission to Macau.

Salvador said that one potential area of interest that they can establish with businessmen from Macau is on gourmet food.

“We hope that through the trade mission we can promote products of the region in Macau and we hope to get orders for them as well as establish partnerships and contacts for our service sectors,” said Salvador.

Last year, Salvador also headed a group of Cebuano businessmen in CCCI’s trade mission to South Africa and this group also mostly compose the delegation which left for Macau yesterday.