Wednesday, April 25, 2007 S. Kudarat business gab draws less; employees perk up attendance
ISULAN, Sultan Kudarat -- An estimated 100 trade and tourism players in the public and private sectors participated at a business conference here that organizers hope will further enhance the competitiveness of products and services in the sub regional economic grouping.
The 2nd Socsksargen Area Business Conference, with the theme "Seizing Regional and Global Competitiveness," was held last week at the newly-built, tourist-attractive capitol building.
Vispocious Ramos, president of the Sultan Kudarat Chamber of Commerce and Industry Foundation Inc., said the participants were way below the expected 300 earlier invited to grace the affair.
To fill up the conference hall, dozens of provincial employees were ushered in Thursday afternoon when senatorial candidate Edgardo Angara spoke on the topic "Investment Opportunities and Issues on Agribusiness Competitiveness."
Angara, whose supporters distributed campaign materials while he was speaking, said the country's "economy will only improve if the focus will be in agriculture."
"Agriculture is the foundation of modern economy," he said, rattling figures such that 55% of Filipinos live in the countryside and dependent on agriculture, 20% of the gross domestic product is contributed by the agriculture sector, and two-thirds of the national income came from agriculture.
"The government is not adequately supporting our farmers, that's why our foods are more expensive compared to China," he said.
Elena Haw, conference chair, said preparations for the event started last October following its initial staging eight years ago.
"We want our issues [on trade and other matters] in the region addressed in the national level. Our main concern is for local and national leaders to help our industries become more competitive domestically and globally," she said.
The issues are now contained in resolutions the plenary had approved at the last day of the conference.
Socsksargen, which stands for South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani and General Santos City, is known for its tuna, pineapple, rice, corn and other high value agricultural crops.
Sultan Kudarat Rep. Suharto Mangudadatu, who is running for governor, said the holding of the conference in the province provides the area an opportunity to showcase its potentials.
"We are inviting investors to come to Sultan Kudarat," he said, emphasizing the "strong local government" support to the business sector.
Mangudadatu admitted they have failed to consider the holding of the business conference at the time when election fever is high.
"Even if the event you're holding is very important, the attention given to it is not really that great because of the political fever," he added.
Conspicuously absent at the conference or at the trade fair were giant agribusiness companies in the league of San Miguel Corp. who may be interested in doing business in Sultan Kudarat, although there were representatives from the oil palm industry which the province is known for. (BSS)
