Cebu chamber holds 3-day trade mission in Bacolod

CEBU, Philippines - To strengthen its bid to pursue inter-province trade linkage advocacy, 14 members of the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) are now in Bacolod City for a three-day trade mission that started yesterday and will culminate on Sunday.

Led by CCCI president Samuel L. Chioson, the group will explore business opportunities and linkages with the Bacolod traders as well as with the government of Negros Occidental.

Known as the “City of Smiles”, Bacolod is the third city in the Philippines that CCCI was able to develop trade partnership. The first was the mission to Vigan and Laoag City which was held last August.

The delegation is expected to attend the Organic Agriculture Festival organized by the Provincial Government of Negros Occidental.

“We are glad that the Metro Bacolod Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MBCCI) opened this opportunity for us to link with their members as well as with other businessmen. This mission intends to provide an opportunity as well as a chance for CCCI members to interact and learn from the members of the Associations of Negros Producers (ANP) that encouraged the local manufacturers to develop highly competitive products,” Chioson said.

Together with Chioson is the chairman of the Bacolod Business Council Engr. Nestor D. Archival, CCCI VP for External Affairs and Relations Division; joining them are Dennis Wong of IPI, Mario Panganiban and Jane Panganiban of Cebu Advent Development Corp., Antonio Tumpar, Mr. and Mrs. Lito Maderazo of Mactan Rock, Jennifer Nardo of Gaisano Metro, CCCI Coordinator Bonchit Tagayuna, and 4 would-be entrepreneurs from other country.

The delegation will conduct business matching with MBCCI members wherein business and investment opportunities in Bacolod and Negros will be discussed. The group also is going to visit organic farms and other areas that can be of interest to Cebu business.

Aside from its active stance to forge international trade linkages, the CCCI likewise started its inter-Philippines trade mission activities this year.

After the success of CCCI’s trade missions overseas that led to trade ties with several countries, this time the Chamber aims to touch base with local traders all over the country to develop a strong business network within.

Simultaneously, some members of the chamber are now in Hawaii, for an eight-day trade mission to build-up relationship with Hawaii business people, especially the members of the Filipino Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii. (FREEMAN)