THE Davao City Government is eyeing sisterhood agreement with Chongqing, a municipality of China, to explore business opportunities.
Councilor Javi Campos, committee chair on international relations, said the two cities are exploring for the development of an industrial park.
"We endeavor to process the sisterhood agreement with Chongqing. There is a chance of doing a China-Davao Industrial Park in the future among other areas of collaboration after fully discussing with them tangible areas of cooperation," Campos said.
Chongqing municipality, located in southwestern China, is known as an industrial site with partnerships from investors around the globe like in the United Kingdom.
He said his committee had a diplomatic meeting with Chinese Consul General Li Lin last August 9, wherein they discussed potential cooperation in the field of trade and commerce, education, arts, and agriculture and health.
He also said the meeting also tackled the potential sisterhood agreement between the two cities.
Davao City Investment and Promotion Center head April Marie Dayap said the Chinese investors are eyeing to develop industries, which will boost Davao City's economy.
Dayap also said if the industrial park will be established, the city will draw more investors, thereby creating more jobs for Dabawenyos and push the city's economy forward.
The establishment of a government-owned industrial zone of at least 20 hectares and with direct access to port and airports has been one of the City Government's priorities, but this has been challenging because there is no available big tracts of land near the sea.
She also said industrial zone is seen as a magnet to investors with the city's potentials for agri-tourism and manufacturing.
Li Lin, in his speech at the City Council on Tuesday, August 13, said the sisterhood partnership will bring "mutually beneficial cooperation" in the manufacturing and agricultural industry.
Delegations from Chongqing, led by its Vice Mayor Xiong Xue, arrived in the city for the signing of the sisterhood agreement.
Campos, meanwhile, said his committee is eyeing to review existing agreements and see if indeed progress has been made from its inception.