The Davao City Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Inc. revealed the 4th Investment Conference (ICon) that the city will host on July 20–22, 2017 will bring together potential buyers and investors to discuss business opportunities in a bid “to bring more people and investments in the region.”
More importantly, the 4th Davao ICon aimed to dismiss security issues and to prove to foreign investors the city’s environment is conducive for investment.
The DCCII emphasized this as it bared the details of the conference slated at the SMX Convention Center, SM Lanang Premiere, Davao City.
Speaking during the Kapehan sa Dabaw media forum yesterday, DCCCII Trustee and ICon 2017 chairperson Arturo M. Milan said this year’s ICon will be much bigger than the past conferences in scope and number of participants.
“We are excited with the very big interest now shown by foreign investors to Davao. I say Davao, not only Davao City but the Region,” said Milan, adding that the conference hopes to bring about strong partnerships as well.
“We want to take advantage of this opportunity that we have a president that is from Davao and many foreign investors who came have realized that what they felt before was really nothing I terms of the security issue,” he said.
ICon 2017 program committee chairperson John Tria identified the focal areas of the conference as sectors increasing in their contribution to gross domestic product (GDP) which include infrastructure and connectivity, manufacture, tourism and agriculture.
“Our intention is to bring in these kind of investments because these are also the kind of investments that generate jobs particularly manufacturing,” said Tria.
DCCCII has invited speakers from various government agencies such as National Economic Development Authority (NEDA)-XI director Maria Lourdes Lim, Mindanao Developemnt Authority (MinDa) Chair Datu Abu Khayr Alonto, Departemnt of Trade and Industry (DTI)-XI regional director Belenda Ambi, and captains of industries.
“These are the kinds of content we will be giving on our investment conference so it’s not only government who will be talking about programs but also private sectors—participants who have been successful on these sectors because we believe that it’s the business person who can invite or encourage business people to come,”
Also expected are presence of cabinet members particularly Labor Secretary Ramon Lopez, Public Works and Highways Sec. Mark Villar, Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol, Tourism Secretary Wanda Teo and Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez.
DCCCII president Ronaldo Go added the President was invited as closing keynote speaker who plays as the region’s important marketing icon attracting foreign delegates to attend and participate.
Davao ICon 2017 is a joint effort of DCCCII in partnership with the City Government of Davao under Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio to take advantage of the five-year window of opportunities occasioned by the Rodrigo Duterte presidency.
DCCCII expects to gather at least 700 participants, half of whom are foreigners from South Korea, Japan, China, Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia and other members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). Also invited are private business executives and government officials from the European Union (EU), Australia and United States of America.
