DESPITE reported cases of influenza A(H1N1) virus in some parts of Asia, 25 local businessmen left Cebu yesterday for a trade mission to Macau, a Chinese territory on the southeast coast of China.

“We do not want to (miss) this opportunity,” said Carmel de Pio-Salvador, head of the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI)-South Africa Business Council.

The 25-member delegation were part of a trade mission to South Africa in September last year.

"Matod Pa Sa Lola ni Noy Kulas." Join the story-writing contest on Cebuano folklore and win prizes.

Geronimo Sta. Ana, Board of Investments governor, will present to the business community in Macau today different investment opportunities in the country.

Sta. Ana said in an interview last Monday that the government’s stimulus plan requires companies to provide more incentives to investors. During the same presentation, he will also update potential investors in Macau about the advantages of investing in Cebu.

The business seminar will be followed with business matching and networking sessions.

In his presentation for the Macau business community, Sta. Ana pointed out that the Philippines exported more than $8.1 million worth of products to Macau and imported more than $8.7 million worth of products from Macau.

Export products include petroleum products, wood furniture, paper and other paper products, sporting goods, processed foods, live fish, textile yarn, electronics and copper while import products include semiconductors, electronics data processing, copper manufactures, pharmaceutical products, sporting goods and paper products, among others.

In a separate interview before their departure for Macau, de Pio-Salvador said the delegation will bring along One Town, One Product (Otop) products prepared by the Department of Trade and Industry. These Otop products include sinamay, dried mangoes and other food delicacies.

“We hope to promote our products and services, as well as gain orders,” she said, adding that they will be attending the trade mission under CCCI’s banner.

Part of the trade mission is participation in the product catalog show organized by the Trade and Investment Promotion Institute of Macau, in partnership with the Philippine Consulate General and the Department of Trade and Industry.

The focus of the product catalog show is the Philippine food and agricultural products and services.