THE Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) inducted 36 new members during its general membership meeting on Friday.
The chamber said the increase in membership is a manifestation of its deep commitment in serving the Cebu business community.
During the same meeting, some 23 businessmen were also inducted into office as board of trustees and officers of the CCCI for 2010-2011.
The officers are president Samuel Chioson, vice-president for finance and admin Prudencio Gesta, vice-president for membership development division Ed Limtingco, vice-president for business fevelopment Lito Maderazo, vice-president for external affairs and relations division Nestor Archival, treasurer Nemesio Solomon Jr., assistant treasurer Joelix Ng, board secretary Benjamin Avila, assistant board secretary Mario Panganiban and legal counsel Deolito Alvarez.
Trustees
The trustees are Daniel Vidal Arcenas, Jonathan Jay Aldeguer, Michael Basubas, Teresa Chan, Oscar Chua, Apollo Enriques, Virgio Espeleta, Ealine Linchua, Teodoro Locson Jr., Melanie Ng, Luis Quisumbing, Felix Taguiam, and Dennis Wong.
The CCI sets a general membership meeting every quarter to keep members aware of the group’s activities, present its accomplishments, promote networking among members and uphold linkages with partner companies and institutions.
Chioson described the second quarter of 2010 as “quite challenging” but said the active participation of its members and leaders have brought a new energy in providing a favorable business and investment climate in Cebu.
Among the highlights of his report on Friday were the successful trade missions in Beijing and Shanghai, China last May when CCCI members and the China-Asean Business Council (CABC) signed a memorandum of agreement to encourage networking, especially in identifying investment projects in both countries.
CCCI also worked with government and privately-organized in-bound and outbound trade missions such as the Australia Trade Mission in Cebu and to Russia and an inter-city trade mission in Vigan. Aside from this, Chioson also reported the chamber’s committee accomplishments in power, environment, tourism, transportation and health.
Meanwhile, CCCI members were told to take advantage of the Ilocos Region’s abundant raw materials that can be useful for export products.
Raw materials
CCCI recently completed a four-day trade mission to Vigan City.
“Ilocos Region has a lot of raw materials we can use for our export like their wood,” said Vigan City trade mission chair Cristina Lo of Coast Pacific Manufacturing Corp. A gourp of 23 CCCI members went on a business mission to Vigan City last Aug. 28 to 31. It was the chamber’s first ever inter-city trade mission.
Lo said Vigan City has varied small–scale industries and they are looking at Cebu as a potential partner.
Lo said about 32 members of the Vigan Chamber of Commerce and Industry attended the business matching.
“We are trying to assist each other when it comes to sophistication of food and packaging. We also learned a lot from them like their concept on how we can present Philippine made products that have an ultimate expression of being Filipino,” Lo said.
Although there were no formal deals inked during their trade mission, Lo said the Vigan Chamber has signified its intention to join the Cebu Business Month next year.
She added that inter-city trade missions are beneficial to strengthen business partnerships among local chambers and promote locally-made products.