By ANTONIO M. AJERO
A DELEGATION of 32 Dabawenyos left for Singapore yesterday to promote four business sectors of Davao in that island city state.
Davao City tourism and investment chief Jason Magnaye said the mission. composed mostly of business leaders, will promote tourism, real property development, information communication technology (ICT)-business process outsourcing (BPO) and agri-business.
Headed by city administrator Zuleika Lopez, the group will attend a series of meetings arranged by commercial and tourism attaches of the Philippine embassy in Singapore, October 11-15, Magnaye bared.
Cacao promotion
The agri-business sector composed of cacao promoters headed Valente Turtur of the Cacao Industry Development Inc. (CIDAMI) will be meeting with importers and owners of retail outlets.
The broad objective of the Turtur group is to establish trade relations with Singapore businessmen interested in importing cacao products from Davao which currently contributes 80 percent of cacao produced in the country.
The tourism group composed of 10 stakeholders will attend a luncheon hosted by travel and tour operators based in Singapore to discuss some tour packages Dabawenyos are offering, aside from the group’s exhibit in one of the malls to showcase what Davao and neighboring areas in the region have to offer in the way of attractive destinations and extreme sports activities.
ICT-BPO players
Pillars of the ICT industry will also be talking to Singaporeans for possible tie-ups with some outsourcing firms in support of the growing BPO industry in Davao. Magnaye said a total of five ICT-BPO champions are joining the mission.
To promote the property sector, the mission is joined by officers of Damosa Land and Aeon Towers who will be promoting investments for their properties among overseas Filipino workers in Singapore.
Magnaye said the city is also positioning itself as a potential destination for retirees.
The agri-business group will be made up of Turtur and four other Dabawenyos.
The mission includes Dr. Maria Lourdes G. Monteverde, president of the Davao City Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Inc.; Jaime Llanes of the Philippine Retirement Authority; Tourism Regional Director Arturo Boncato, Councilor Al Ryan Alejandre for the committee on tourism, Councilor Jimmy Dureza for the committee on trade and commerce.
“We may not achieve tangible results overnight, but at least we can start our linkages, our network with Singaporean business groups, government and private sector counterparts,” Magnaye told mediamen.
Cebu Pacific support
The delegation will also meet with officers and members of the Singapore-Chinese Chamber of Commerce and the Singapore-Malay Chamber of Commerce to strike sustainable business relationship with them which will be useful now and in the coming years.
The mission is supported by Cebu Pacific, as partner airline, responsible not only for providing air tickets but also some arrangements in Singapore.
Objectives
The mission’s objectives vary according to sectoral representation, Magnaye said.
The agri-businss sector will explore possible trade relations with cacao exporters in Singapore, while the ICT players’ objective is to touch base with possible clients or locators for the BPO industry in Davao.
Director Boncato’s group will promote growth in tourist traffic using the existing direct connectivity between Davao and Singapore.
On the other hand, property developers with the mission will showcase ongoing and future property developments that may interest OFWs based in Singapore who would want to invest or purchase properties here, particularly subdivision lots and condominium units.
Magnaye said the mission will likewise promote the upcoming Davao Trade Expo (DATE) in October and the Davao Investment Conference or iCon 2012 set in November. AMA
