Thursday, October 26, 2006 Investment seminars for SMEs and LGUs slated
AN INVESTMENT seminar targeting the region's Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) is scheduled to be conducted on November 10, 2006, at the Garden Orchid Hotel in Zamboanga City.
The seminar is part of the Board of Investments' (BOI) nationwide investment promotion drive dubbed as "Domestic Roadshow on Investment Generation." DTI Regional Director Naz Manzur whose office is coordinating with BOI in the conduct of the said seminar revealed this.
Manzur said the seminar will tackle, among other things, the various fiscal incentives BOI gives to BOI-registered firms (such as income tax holidays; exemption from taxes and duties on imported spare parts; exemption from wharfage dues and export tax, impost and fees; tax exemption on breeding of stocks and genetic materials; etc.), the annual investment priority areas, as well as the various services of the proposed One-Stop Action Center Services (OSACs) to be set up in the region.
Various financing programs for SMEs will also be discussed by resource speakers coming from different government financing institutions. More importantly, the seminar participants will be given the opportunity for a one-on-one business consultation with BOI's industry experts, Manzur said.
DTI records show there are only 56 BOI-registered companies in Region 9, mostly classified as large. SMEs on the other hand constitute a very small fraction of those registered. This is true in almost all regions in the country, the reason why this roadshow had been launched by BOI.
BOI through the DTI is therefore, extending this invitation to all SMEs in the region to attend the seminar. The invitation is also extended to firms classified as large, especially those whose plants are undergoing expansion, those who are making equipment acquisition or those who plan to engage in product diversification. Registration for this seminar is free.
Manzur also disclosed that a two-day training on Capability Building on Investment Promotion is also slated on November 8 and 9, 2006, at the Garden Orchid Hotel.
Target participants this time are LGU executives and representatives of private sector organizations in Region 9.
The proposed seminar, which is to be conducted in coordination with the Regional Development Council (RDC 9), is aimed at heightening the appreciation among local government executives on the importance of their roles on investment promotion and to enhance their knowledge in the preparation of their respective Local Investment Incentives Code as well as in devising investment promotion strategies for their locality. Registration fee for this training is P600.
For details, please contact Ms. Herminia B. Cuevas of the DTI 9 Regional Office at 991-3237 or 991-3238 or the DTI Provincial office.(Lowell Vallecer)
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