CCCI encourages entrepreneurs, stakeholders to take part in CBM

CEBU, Philippines - In this year’s Cebu Business Month, the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry encourages industry stakeholders and emerging entrepreneurs to take part in the month-long celebration as they bring the Queen City of the South to greater heights towards global competitiveness.With the theme “Soar Higher Cebu”, CBM is considered to be an institutionalized festival of the business community and its 2012 objective aims to propel Cebu businesses to attain the highest achievement in terms of growth, profitability and long-term sustainability.

Cebu Business Month 2012 Overall Chair Mario Panganiban said that the chamber had organized various activities, expositions and programs showcasing CBM’s thrust in the context of collaboration, cooperation, partnership and synergy.

“It has been nine months of work among 11 committees of the whole CCCI. Tonight we gradually unfold CBM as we fly through our keypaths – the information and communications technology business process outsourcing, tourism, micro, small and medium enterprises and emerging industries. These are the paths towards our common aspiration to bring Cebu to greater heights towards global competitiveness,” he said during the grand opening salvo held at Ayala Terraces on June 1.

He further acknowledged the presence of the President of Cebu Holdings and Vice President for Visayas of Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry Francis Monera, CCCI past presidents including Samuel Chioson, CCCI Board of Trustees, Mandaue Chamber of Commerce and Industry President Eric Mendoza, committee chairs and AFOS Foundation for Entrepreneurial Development Cooperation, a German trade delegation serving as partner of the chamber.

Meanwhile, CCCI President Prudencio Gesta said that as a chamber known for its culture of noble service, the initiatives of CBM 2012 are all part of CCCI’s thrust for further developments of Cebu’s trade and industry.

“Every year, aspiring entrepreneurs and successful businessmen gathered together to be part of this month-long celebration to build linkages, promote collaboration and strengthen synergy in the business community. Let’s all soar to greater heights this June and all the years ahead,” he stated.

In the same event, he also shared the “good” news as Cebu won the hosting rights for the Confederation of Asia – Pacific Chambers of Commerce and Industry next year through CCCI, going across international borders to increase business transactions, strengthen the sector globally and build ties with other investors.

For 46 years since 1966, CACCI is a non-governmental organization serving as a forum for promoting the vital role of businessmen and the best of 27 countries in Asia and Western Pacific to increase regional business interaction and enhance regional economic growth.

In a video presentation during the opening salvo, Monera said that the Philippines outsmarted other four interested countries that participated in the bid which included Pakistan, Iran, Japan, and Korea.

He added that with CCCI celebrating its centennial year in 2013 added consideration for being the right choice to host CACCI.

Gesta, on the other hand, said that Cebu has well-prepared a lot for the two-day international conference, revealing that they would include Suroy-Suroy Sugbo and golfing as a treat for the foreign and local stakeholders.

He added that CACCI to be held in Cebu will allow additional networking among delegates, strengthen public-private partnership, and increase tourism and economic growth as the province soars globally in the country and across Asia.

Past confederations were held in Yokohama, Japan in 2009, in Colombo, Sri Lanka in 2010 and in Kathmandu, Nepal for this year. (FREEMAN)