The virtual launch of this year’s Davao Investment Conference (Davao ICON 2021) on Wednesday sent the message that despite the pandemic, nothing can stop investment potentials of Davao Region that could generate jobs not only Davao City but the region as well.
The kickoff anchored on the theme: “Davao Region: of the Philippines, of ASEAN Asian and of the future” and led by Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio, Davao City Chamber of Commerce and Industry Inc., (DCCCII) president Dr. Maria Lourdes Monteverde, and this year’s Davao ICON chair and president of Damosa Land Inc., (DLI) Ricardo “Cary” Lagdameo, promised a prolific Davao ICON with main event happening on November 11, 2021.
“We will be highlighting the whole Davao Region in addition to Davao City and I think when you think about different kinds of investment opportunities some really are outside Davao City. Of course, Davao City will probably garner the most of them but if we are talking about agri-business its outside Davao City and, of course, the BPO and real estate sectors are within Davao city, utilities and infrastructure would be outside Davao City as well,” Lagdameo said.
Lagdameo said there are many opportunities in Davao Region and those will be discussed in the coming months.
“Whether it is a major hospitality project in Davao de Oro, an agribusiness project in Davao Occidental, manufacturing operation in Davao del Norte, tourism project in Davao Oriental, energy project in Davao del Sur, or the numerous real estate opportunities across the region, Davao Region has something for a wide array of investors,” Lagdameo said.
Lagdameo added that from having to focus only on agribusiness over the last decade, businesses have become diverse not only that the region is one of the world’s leaders in export of fresh bananas and pineapples, today it is considered as the cacao capital of the country, host of one of the country’s busiest container terminal, a center for excellence for the BPO companies, home to several international hospitality brands, home to one of the most important region for township development, and still being considered the food basket of the Philippines.
“Many of the large national and multinational companies and industries have been operating for quiet sometime. We believe that the region has become a competitive with the rest of the country today,” he said.
For this year, Davao ICON will be showcasing also a number of firsts and the focus areas for this year will be on tourism, agribusiness, real estate and manufacturing, infrastructure, ICT and education.
Meanwhile, Mayor Sara said the region need these economic prospects as it continue to move forward beyond this pandemic and cements the region’s role in the ASEAN community.
“Let us continue to work together so that Davao region which is strong today will emerge stronger tomorrow. We thanked the Davao City Chamber of Commerce and Industry for bringing in the cities more opportunities. With today’s virtual launch there are now opportunities available for a number of people in the areas of real estate, tourism, manufacturing, agribusiness, ICT, education, and infrastructure,” the mayor said.
Monteverde said the kick off is a testimony of Davao’s resilience and fortitude to overcome adversity.
“We are optimistic that Davao and Mindanao will be able to recover from the economic slump that we have in 2020. The Davao ICON shall regain the momentum we had had before the pandemic,” she said.
Davao ICON 2021 will carry the theme: “Davao Region, strong today, strong tomorrow”.
“This is so apt to highlight the potential of Davao region as the investment destination in Asia Pacific region and the sub-region of BIMP-EAGA,” she said.
