Business expo highlights Danao products, services

CEBU, Philippines —  The local government of Danao City, Cebu held a three-day Business Expo, which ran from September 14-16, in a bid to recognize and reveal the City’s business capabilities and assets, showcasing products and services that define Danao now and moving forward.

Held at Danao CityMall, the Business Expo was an off-shoot of the successful and first ever Business Summit held last month.

 “Today is not just a showcase of capabilities of the business sector in the City of Danao but a show of force to be reckoned with; government recognizing the crucial role of the business sector in achieving our aspiration as the next emerging city and a model of development not just in the province of Cebu but in the country,” said Danao City Mayor Thomas Mix Durano during the formal opening of the event.

In his welcome message, Durano said the city under his leadership will highly value the role of the business community in the city, especially the micro, small, and medium enterprises, who are among those who participated in the expo showing off their food and native products, apart from resort operators, manufacturing businesses, service providers, banking and education sector and more.

The Mayor said the business expo is part of the city’s plan “to be a Model City for a Sustainable and Climate Resilient Economic Hub in the Province of Cebu as a vibrant, livable, globally competent community uplifting the quality of life for every Danawanon.”

“The Government can’t do it alone, we need everyone and the rest of the constituents to join us on this rough journey for success,” he added.

For his part, Danao City Investment and Promotions Center OIC Red Durano, assured that the Business Expo was just the start among the many activities to happen and he hopes they can partner with more stakeholders.

“We want Danao to be the hub of industrialization here in the Province Cebu and the only way to do that is to showcase how ready the city is, how capable it is,” said Red adding that “being a Danawanaon I’m very proud to say that Danao is very ripe for investments both locally and internationally.”

Last August 19, Danao City kicked off its first Business Summit with over 70 participants. During the summit, Red announced the revival of the Danao Chamber of Commerce and Industry led by its president Ireneo Tangalin, whom Red said will be a partner of a lot of his office’s activities, including the 3-day Business Expo.

Apart from participating business operators in Danao showcasing their products and services, the expo organizers have invited students taking business-related courses to visit the 3-day event, as well as other business sectors, including officers from Mandaue Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI) and other guests from other LGUs. Other welcome guests are also potential business investors for Danao City and constituents of the city.

Different topics will also be tackled during the expo as part of its learning sessions, including “Business resiliency; how can the business get prepared when disaster strikes?”

Even before the pandemic hit, Danao City has been identified by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) as the next industrial and economic hub of Metro Cebu. The City is also considered the biking capital of Cebu and been hosting national and international events during the pre-pandemic.

According to the recent result of the Cities of Competitiveness Index of the Philippines by the Department of Trade and Industry, Danao City ranks 2nd among component cities in the Province of Cebu and rank 64th nationwide.