Trade agreements expected: 5 Ambassadors attend Mandaue Charter Day

CEBU, Philippines – Five ambassadors and two embassy officials will attend today's 41st Charter Anniversary of Mandaue City.

The ambassadors from Cambodia, Indonesia, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Iraq are expected to join today's festivities with their wives, as well as embassy officials from Vietnam and Venezuela.

Roger Paller, acting public information officer of the Mandaue City Government, said that the officials will also attend the business forum organized by the City and the Mandaue City Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

The international delegation arrived yesterday and they were met by City officials led by Vice Mayor Glenn Bercede and Councilors Beethoven Andaya, Jimmy Lu-mapas, Nenita Layese, Editha Cabahug, Emmarie Dizon and Elstone Davon.

The Mandaue City Government, according to Paler, is planning to enter into trade agreements with these seven countries after the business forum.

"Indonesia, for one, is very much willing to enter into an agreement as shown during initial discussions," said Paller.

Paller said that the coming to Cebu of these high ranking international officials only defies the negative perceptions that the violent hostage taking incident has brought to the whole country.

He assured that the international delegates are accorded with full security. The ambassadors and the other officials will have a tree-planting activity at the mountain barangay of Casili, where Mandaue City has an eco-park.

Mandaue City, considered Cebu and the country's furniture capital, will cap its 41st anniversary celebration in the evening by giving awards to various individuals and companies who have made contribution to the city's growth. (FREEMAN)