Wednesday, December 20, 2006 Future Mandaue export mall to benefit SMEs too
EXPORT industry players will find a place to display their products in the proposed export mall that will be built on a City-owned lot at the Mandaue City reclamation area.
Mandaue City Mayor Thadeo Ouano said he will fulfill his promise to Cebu exporters that the local government will provide the lot for the Center for Industry and Trade Exposition (Citex).
Citex will rise on a parcel of land across the Mandaue City hospital, the mayor said in an interview.
In a text message, Ouano said the Citex project is being endorsed by the National Economic and Development Authority to the Japanese International Cooperation Agency for appropriate funding.
He said construction of the center will begin upon the release of the funds.
“The project will push through and it will be a permanent showroom for exporters in Cebu,” Ouano said.
The proposed export mall will be four to five stories high and is estimated to cost P12 to P15 million.
The Citex, on the other hand, will house a one-stop export documentation center, action center for investments and a business support office.
It will provide various services such as counseling and advisory programs for small and medium enterprises (SMEs), product development workshops, and design clinics.
Income
Ouano said the facility will be “income generating.”
“All the exporters will do is display their products and leave contact numbers for the buyers,” he said.
Apart from the furniture, manufacturing, fashion accessories sectors, Ouano said the export mall will also be a venue for SMEs to showcase their products.
In a separate interview, Confederation of Philippine Exporters Foundation (Philexport) Cebu Inc. executive officer Fred Escalona said the group welcomes Ouano’s proposal for an export mall.
“This is a brilliant idea since the industry does not have its own showroom. I was hoping it will catch up with the Asean (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) summit but hopefully this will start soon,” Escalona said.
Escalona said he finds the location a strategic spot since it is accessible to the port area and the Mactan Cebu International Airport.
Meanwhile, Ouano said other multimillion establishments that will complement the Cebu International Convention Center will rise at the reclamation area.
He said he is optimistic these new developments will elevate the city’s status as an “emerging convention center in Asia.” (MMM)
