As one of its many worthwhile projects, the Chamber organizes the annual Cebu Business Month (CBM), which promotes Cebu’s trade and industry opportunities, especially for the small and medium scale enterprises.
At its 11th business festival, the CBM was formally launched at the Cebu Waterfront Hotel, and just recently at the InterContinental Hotel in Makati, with no less than Cebu Provincial Governor Gwen Garcia, Cebu Mayor Tomas Osmeña, CCCI president Francis Monera and Joel Mari Yu of the Cebu Investment Promotions Center in attendance.
With its thrust in tourism and communications technology, the CBM 2006 carries the theme "Invest Cebu." One of the major activities will be the three-day conference and exhibit dubbed "InTourPreneur." It will highlight the islands’ vibrant growth in business and abundance in investment opportunities. The delegates and participants will have local and international speakers representing the different sectors of government, business, tourism, academe, and technology providers.
Among the distinguished keynote speakers and panelists are Secretary of Tourism Joseph "Ace" Durano, Smart Communications president Polly Nazareno, Globe Telecom president Gerry Ablaza, Roberto Aboitiz of Aboitiz and Company, Cebu Pacific Airways president Lance Gokongwei, Lexmark Philippines president Stan Combs, Alfred Ty of Marco Polo Plaza Hotel, Fairchild Semiconductors president Rudy Bollozos, Cardiovascular Hospitals of America vice president for Far East operations Dr. Philip Chua, Shangri-La Mactan Resort and Spa general manager Timothy Wright, and Philippine Franchising Association Cebu Chapter chairman Jay Aldeguer.
Other activities include: ICT Quiz Bowl for students; ICT Jobs Fair where companies will be invited to establish employment opportunities for job seekers; and Business in Golf.
This event is expected to generate over 1,400 delegates and some 25,000 exhibit viewers including a substantial number of visitors from Manila and the neighboring towns and cities of Cebu.
The much-anticipated month-long event is headed by newly-elected CCCI president, the driven Francis Monera of Cebu Holdings Inc. The executive committee is composed of Prudgie Gesta for finance, Jay Aldeguer for tourism and sports, Teresa Pono, executive director, Carmel Salvador, ways and means and sponsorship, Perl Jacalan for publicity and promo, and Xavier Aboitiz as club adviser.