Friday, June 15, 2007 Emano issues call for 2nd ICT biz gab
MAYOR Vicente Emano is enjoining key players in the field of information and communications technology (ICT) industry to participate in the 2nd Northern Mindanao Business Summit on ICT that will be held on June 22, 2007 at the Grand City Hotel, Velez Street, Cagayan de Oro City.
The ICT summit is organized by the Cagayan de Oro Chamber of Commerce and Industry Foundation, Inc. (Oro Chamber) in consonance with its 2007 agenda of competence and continuing commitment.
Emano said the choice of Cagayan de Oro as venue for important ICT events in Mindanao and the region concretizes the city's emerging role as an ICT Goldmine in the country today.
The mayor pointed out that in the past few years, many ICT investors have established their investments in Cagayan de Oro.
He credited this to the city's well-placed infrastructure facilities and amenities, typhoon-free weather, highly literate and highly skilled labor force and good peace and order condition.
Recognizing this emerging role of Cagayan de Oro in the field of ICT investment, Emano said President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has declared a three-hectare area within the Pueblo de Oro Township Project as the First ICT Park in Mindanao.
Emano hoped that the 2nd Northern Mindanao Business Summit on ICT will become a fruitful avenue for key ICT players to tackle relevant issues that will propel economic progress for the people in the region and the island of Mindanao.
Gold mine
Meanwhile, Heidi Grace P. Mendoza, secretary general of the Oro Chamber disclosed that this summit, in partnership with the E-Business Cluster of the Regional Information Technology & E-Commerce Committee, aims to highlight the different steps that are being taken to further Northern Mindanao's interest in the ICT industry.
Mendoza said leaders from the government, academe, and ICT business will be present to speak on opportunities, updates and other pressing concerns and issues that need to be resolved.
The summit will also provide the venue for various ICT players to meet and link up.
For his part, Oro Chamber President Elpie Paras said after the successful 1st Northern Mindanao ICT Business Summit last June 2006 and the 5th Mindanao ICT Congress last September 2006, the Oro Chamber sees the need for the annual hosting of this event within the city and the region.
"If we really aim to become the ICT Gold Mine of the country, we must not rest and continue our advocacy," Paras contended.
ICT is gaining grounds as the next industry to watch out for in the region and the whole of Mindanao as evidenced by its tremendous contributions to the national economy through the various outsourcing companies and the provision of ICT-aided services in the past five years.
With the theme "Strengthening and Expanding the Mindanao ICT Industry," the 2nd ICT Biz Summit is endorsed by and with the cooperation of Syntactics, Capitol University, Phividec Industrial Authority, and the regional offices of National Computer Center, Department of the Interior & Local Government, Commission on Higher Education, Department of Trade & Industry, Department of Science & Technology, National Statistical Coordination Board, and the National Economic & Development Authority.
The event is sponsored by the Platinum - Microsoft; Gold - Ubix; Silver - Globalchips, Pryce Plaza Hotel and Dunkin Donuts. (CIO)
