THE first-ever Compostela Valley Investment Conference (Comval-Icon) 2016 will highlight five priority industries: aquaculture, banana, cacao, coconut and coffee.
The two-day conference slated Oct. 20 and 21 at the Capitol Building, Cabidianan, Nabunturan, which is eyed to generate some P50 million worth of investments both for new and expansion projects, will be a venue to converge all industry players to match with potential investors and enablers to harmonize its actions and plans for the development of priority industries.
Patrick Kim Evangelio, Senior Trade and Industry Development Specialist of the Department of Trade Industry (DTI)-Comval, told reporters on Wednesday during Habi at Kape media conference at the Abreeza-Ayala Mall that the event will position Comval as a potential investment in Davao Region especially on agriculture.
“Comval is known for having several mining firms operating in the province, and we also would want to stregthen Comval's position as a hub for agricultural investments,” he said, adding that some 60 percent of the province’s investments are focused on agriculture while 40 percent are into mining.
The investment conference is a new platform jointly created by the Department of Trade Industry, Department of Agriculture, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, Department of Labor and Employment, Provincial Government of Comval and Compostela Fresh Water, Aquaculture Stakeholders Association, Inc.
The conference is centered on the theme: Promoting Viable Industries for Inclusive Growth.
Rochelle Otoc, Trade and Industry Development Analyst, for her part said, the conference will have components of plenary session, break-out session, market/investment matching, trade fair and exhibit and industry tour and familiarization.
Six booths will be made available in the trade fair and exhibit.
“With this conference, we aim to layout viable strategies for the development of local industries such as aquaculture and agri-based products and also to attract new investors on processing and value-adding,” Evangelio said.
He also said that the upcoming event is geared towards providing avenue for stakeholders to discuss issues and concerns as well as exchange information on concerned industries and develop, strengthen supplier-buyer relationship.
In its conference briefer, organizers target to increase domestic sales by 30 percent, plan three projects which will be launched by the end of the year, develop and link 10 new markets, form and organize five industry organizations and establish five industry profiles.
Evangelio also shared that the province, through its newly crafted Provincial Investments and Incentives Codes, “provides vigorous attraction to investors to facilitate domestic investments in agriculture and fisheries with the expectation that such investment will contribute to production growth, poverty reduction and food security in the province while at the same time provide developmental benefits through technology transfer, employment creation, access to markets and infrastructure development.”
In 2012, super typhoon Pablo devastated provinces in Mindanao including Comval leaving a destruction of vast hectares of agricultural and farm areas pegged at around P11.23B severely affecting five of the 11 municipalities in the province.