THE Metro Bacolod Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MBCCI) has received a special citation as an outstanding chamber in the country from the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) during the 44th Philippine Business Conference in Manila on Friday, October 19.

Frank Carbon, chief executive officer of MBCCI, said the organization is elated of the citation for its hosting of this year’s Visayas Area Business Conference and Agriculture and Livestock Expo in Bacolod City last August.

The three-day activity included the Philippine Franchise Association Expo and Aspire Forum and Business Matching.

Themed “Government and Business Partnering for Growth and Development: Building Capacities and Finding Solutions,” it was attended by representatives of businesses, local government units (LGUs), and academe from Western, Central, and Eastern Visayas.

Carbon said the regional conference they hosted along with the Provincial Government of Negros Occidental demonstrated that if everyone is working together, coming to one place and sit down, a lot of things can be done.

“We are more elated by the fact that we were able to gather the government and private sector in one event that has spurred opportunities for the province and the entire Visayas as well,” he added.

The business leader also pointed out that through the Visayas area conference, they were able to convey to PCCI and all its member-chambers that development can be achieved by working together.

Also, the activity has paved way for Negros Occidental to present its investment and tourism potentials during the two-day national business conference last week.

During the chamber management meeting on October 17, former governor Rafael Coscolluela, now the provincial consultant on investment promotions, export and trade development, presented the importance of active participation of local business chamber in governance.

Provincial Planning and Development Officer Ma. Lina Sanogal, on the other hand, pitched the province’s tourism investment potentials in one of the breakout sessions of the conference.

“Through the regional conference, other chambers have seen the strength of the province especially in terms of tourism thus, PCCI has invited our provincial government to present,” Carbon said, adding that MBCCI will continue to push for stronger public and private sector collaboration.