ITS hosting of "Invest in Negros" Business Forum has stirred gains for the Provincial Government of Negros Occidental amid the bid to make province as an investment destination in the country, an official said.
The forum held at Dusit Thani Hotel Manila in Makati City Wednesday, September 26, was part of the ongoing 33rd Negros Trade Fair at the Glorietta Activity Center also in Makati City.
Joy Ogan, executive assistant to the governor, said the province has learned so much from the presentations of the panelists.
Ogan said presenters have affirmed the diversification efforts of the province as one measure to boost the local economy, not solely relying on the sugar industry.
"Sugar has a place, there is a big market for sugar. Though, we have to be competitive given that our production cost is very high so we need farm mechanization," she said, adding that "it is really beyond sugar although our production for this commodity is still not sufficient."
Presenters also cited the country's potential, especially of Negros Occidental, in terms of molasses production.
They recognized that locally produced molasses, a by-product of sugar, are better in terms of quality compared to those produced in some countries, Ogan said.
"We need to aim for export. We need to go for production of other high-value crops," she added.
The business forum was attended by senior executives and business leaders from Negros Occidental and other areas outside the province and country.
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).
It is aimed at providing a window for potential investors to be “acquainted” with business opportunities in Negros Occidental.
Also, it is part of the province’s campaign to invite investors and promote local economic growth.
Among the invited panelists during the forum included Josie Emmanuel Jalandoni, senior vice president and head of Ayala Malls, who spoke on Ayala's business engagement in Negros Occidental and why chose to invest in the province.
Danilo Intong, director for investment of the Department of Tourism, presented the tourism potentials of Negros Occidental.
Senen Perlada, director of Export Marketing Bureau of the Department of Trade and Industry, talked on opportunities and challenges for trade and investment in growth areas like Negros.
University of Asia and the Pacific's Center for Food and Agriculture Executive Director Rolando Dy discussed "Where Money Lies Beyond Sugar: Making Diversification Works in Negros, while Hino Motors Philippines Inc. chairman Vicente Mills Jr. presented their company's dealership in Negros and the growing logistics demand in the province.
Former governor Rafael Coscolluela, now the provincial consultant for Economic Development and Investment Promotion, talked on Negros Occidental Local Investment and Incentives Code.
France Trade Attache Laurent Estrade also attended the forum. French investors are interested in tourism, Ogan said.
She added that after the forum, the province's next step is to create an investment roadmap, which is market driven.
"We will use the inputs from the forum as a basis in coming up with our investment roadmap that will include programs making the province as more investment ready," Ogan said, adding that "this will help us engage better with investors."
Through the business forum, the Provincial Government also recognized the need for more collaboration with the private sector.
"The role of the government is more on regulatory and creating a positive environment for businesses to grow thus, we need to have more engagements and dialogues especially on the creation of local ordinances allowing investment to grow," she added.
Meanwhile, also present during the forum were Provincial Government officials led by Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr. and Vice Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson along with private sector partner-representatives.