BANKING on the popularity of the annual Negros Trade Fair (NTF), the provincial government will highlight Negros Occidental as an investment destination in the country during this year’s edition of the said event.
Now on its 33rd year, the trade fair is scheduled from September 25 to 30 still at the Glorietta Activity Center in Makati City.
Joy Ogan, executive assistant to the governor, Friday said the trade fair is more than just a showcase of crafts and food.
Ogan said Negros Occidental was positioned as a food destination last year. For this year, they are making the 33rd Negros Trade Fair a gateway for bigger investments for the province.
“We are capitalizing on the attractiveness of the annual event,” he said, adding that the provincial government hopes to attract possible investors mainly for processing and marketing facilities for livestock, aquaculture and fishery, organic products, cold chain services, transportation and infrastructure.
As part of the six-day event, the provincial government is hosting the “Invest in Negros Business Forum” at Dusit Thani Hotel Manila in Makati City on September 26.
This is in collaboration with the Association of Negros Producers (ANP), Italian Chamber of Commerce in the Philippines Inc. (ICCPI), and Metro Bacolod Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MBCCI).
The business forum will provide a window for potential investors to be “acquainted” with business opportunities in Negros Occidental.
It is part of the province’s campaign to invite investors and promote local economic growth, Ogan said.
Its central theme will be the tourism industry cluster and its food and service supply chain covering agriculture, fisheries, livestock, utilities – water, energy and telecommunications – infrastructure, and transport networks like roads, seaport and airport.
The provincial government targets at least 100 participants who are senior executives and business leaders from Negros Occidental and other areas outside the province.
They might be individuals with interests to invest in Negros, or officials of local and international chambers of commerce and business organizations like the Management Association of the Philippines and Cold Chain Association of the Philippines, among others.
Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr. is expected to speak during the event and will join the panel to answer queries from the participants.
Among other panelists are representatives of Ayala Corporation who will talk on the company’s business engagements in the province and the reasons for investing in Negros Occidental, while representatives of the Department of Agriculture will talk on the province’s tourism potentials.
The Department of Trade and Industry will also give a talk on opportunities and challenges for trade and investment in growth areas like Negros.
Other topics to be presented are the Hino Motors Dealership and the Growing Logistics Demand in the Province by Hino Motors Philippines; Where Money Lies Beyond Sugar: Making Diversification Work in Negros by the Center for Food and Agribusiness of the University of Asia and the Pacific; and the Negros Occidental Local Investment and Incentives Code by former governor and provincial consultant on investment promotions, export, and trade development Rafael Coscolluela.
Ogan said they are now accepting investible project proposals from cities and municipalities in the province, which will be pitched during the business forum.
At present, three local government units have already submitted their projects namely San Carlos City for its sports complex development, Himamaylan City for an organic village and recreational center, and Bago City for Bantayan Waterfront Park.
“We want to highlight who we want to come in and what kind of investments we really want to push for the province,” Ogan said, adding that a business forum is a pocket event to the trade fair following the “Arima” Governor’s Night on September 25.
This year’s theme is “Sweet Talk: Sugar, Spice, and Everything Nice.”