CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry announced yesterday that it is going to institutionalize its partnership with the Cebu City and Cebu provincial governments to effectively host a growing number of international inbound trade missions.
CCCI president Ma. Teresa B. Chan said that the chamber will also allocate a small budget and a team for trade mission hostings considering that "the entire world is now looking at the Philippines, including Cebu."
"If there was no need for this focus before, now we have to join hands with the government [city and province] because international trade missions with serious intent to explore Cebu, is growing," said Chan in an interview yesterday.
CCCI will closely coordinate with the Cebu City and Cebu Province, and other local government units within the province, to set up a more organized investment and promotion system and procedure.
Recently, Chan said Cebu hosted different international trade missions such as from Singapore, South Africa, Turkey, Mexico, Sri Lanka, Israel, Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, Spain, among others.
"More are coming, so we have to be well prepared. We have to synchronize our promotion of Cebu with the LGUs," she said.
Earlier, Chan announced that the Chamber will build an official partnership link with the International of Chamber Commerce in Asia, opening higher chance for members to enter the core of Asian trade trail.
Chan recently met with Lee Ju Song, Regional Director, International Chamber of Commerce Asia, during one of the APEC Summit meetings participated by the private sector.
"We discussed about the official affiliation of CCCI to the International Chamber, that may soon happen," said Chan.
According to Chan, although the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) is already affiliated with this Singapore-based global business organization, it is still important for CCCI to make a specific partnership link to provide its members clearer, easier linkage pathway amid the pressure of globalization.
This move, Chan said is part of the chamber's active entry to the international business landscape, even beyond the "premises" of ASEAN region. (FREEMAN)