Cebu annual economic briefing, investment forum set this month

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu Business Club (CBC) will be hosting its 4th Cebu Annual Economic Briefing and Investment Forum this coming February 28 at the City Sports Club Cebu.

National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) director-general and socioeconomic planning secretary Arseño Balisacan will be the forum’s lead speaker. He will give a briefing on the performance of the economy and its future outlook.

Despite the series of natural disasters that hit the country in the latter part of the year, the economy expanded by 7.2 percent, improving from the 6.8 percent achieved in 2012. 

The forum will try to make participants understand what made possible this creditable performance of the country, and where we stand now with respect to our neighbors in the ASEAN and the rest of East Asia.

According to CBC president Dondi Joseph, the forum will also answer questions on what sectors contributed most to growth, are these sources of growth desirable when viewed for their sustainability and capacity to achieve inclusive growth, what challenges still remains and how are we to confront these pressing challenges.

“In the first three years of the present administration, what lessons have we learned in our national development effort? What are the salient features of the updated Philippine Development Plan and how do we measure the success of its implementation? More importantly, what are we to do with our high unemployment and poverty rates that prevail across the different sectors of the economy and areas of the country,” Joseph said.

More inputs on the subject will also be given by Dr. Karl Chua, World Bank Senior Country Economist to the Philippines, together with the reactions from responsible officials of the local business groups here in Cebu. Capping this event is a presentation on the performance of the Philippine Stock Market and its Outlook to be given by Mr. Leonardo Arguelles, Jr., President and CEO of Unicapital Securities, Inc.

In its fourth year now, this event is organized by Cebu Business Club with Cebu Holdings, Inc. and Unicapital Securities, Inc. in cooperation with the Cebu and Mandaue Chambers of Commerce and Industries, Bosconian International Chamber of Commerce and the Department of Economics of the University of San Carlos. Interested participants from business, government, academe and other groups are welcome. (FREEMAN)