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Monday, September 20, 2004
Roxas appeals for paradigm shift in Mindanao business
ENOUGH of the merry-go-round.
Sen. Manuel Roxas, one of the keynote speakers at the 13th Mindanao Business Conference (Minbizcon), Thursday proposed a paradigm shift in Mindanao businesses upon noting recurring appeals from businessmen.
Roxas said this year's Minbizcon's action agenda contained items he had seen five years ago, indicating a stagnant Mindanao economy.
He said the repetitiveness made him wonder what was lacking in Mindanao despite the island's edge in terms of resources, government and foreign support.
"Mindanao tracks the growth of the whole country. It exceeded GDP (gross development product) for three years, got strong support from foreign donors and significant attention from the national government," he said.
The lack of an economy of scale and high transport cost could be blocking business development in this part of the country but the most valid factor observed by Roxas is the kind of paradigm followed by most traders.
"I'm introducing now a parameter of success in doing business, a rule of the game in the commercial world," he stressed.
Citing China as an example, which follows the principle of "economies of scale to maximize growth," he urged the participants to debate and apply the same principle in doing business "faster, smaller, and cheaper."
Roxas, on the other hand, commended the traders for a successful political advocacy as manifested through the yearly convergence of businessmen all over Mindanao to raise, tackle, and solve issues concerning the industry.
"It is only Mindanao that has successfully and continuously converged traders for a conference. Luzon and Visayas do not have this convergence," he said.
He hoped that traders would apply such successful advocacy to work on the issue of a stagnant economy due to an obsolete paradigm.
He also hoped a new thinking would be reflected by Minbizcon's next action agenda.
(September 20, 2004 issue)
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