Expansion
Small oil companies have aggressively pushed their expansion programs in Davao City and elsewhere in Mindanao in a low-key positioning aimed at getting a slice of the Mindanao market.
The Board of Investments 11 disclosed that least two independent oil players that were not yet highly visible in Mindanao have already informed his office that they were finalizing the locations of their new depots either in the city or in two towns of Davao del Sur.
Exporters’ fund
The P1 billion Export Support Fund (ESF), aimed at cushioning the impact of the financial crisis on the export sector, has benefited some Mindanao exporters including the development of fish quality laboratory facilities of the tuna industry in General Santos City and partly subsidizing the recently-concluded Mindanao Trade Expo (MTE) 2009.
Export Development Council (EDC) deputy director Emma Mijares said the ESF is aimed at supporting small and medium enterprise (SME) exporters during trade fairs. It will also support SME exporters on product development that includes packaging, and training to improve marketing linkages.
Shortened
NATIONAL Economic Research and Business Assistance Center (Nerbac) of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI)-Southern Mindanao assured that proper measures have already been put in place to shorten processes in starting a business.
Nerbac Officer-in-Charge Lucky Balleque said they have streamlined their operations, particularly the registration process, as mandated by the Citizens Charter under the Anti-Red Tape Act after a study conducted by the International Finance Corporation and the Asian Institute of Management last year showed that Davao City was doing poorly in terms of starting a business.
Tourism hub
AT LEAST two major medical facilities in Davao City are on the road to becoming Mindanao’s first medical tourism facilities, based on the Board of Investments (BOI)-Southern Mindanao.
BOI-Southern Mindanao chief Gil Dureza said that aside from two medical facilities in Davao City that have applied for expansion in line with their bid for medical tourism, another investment focused on dental tourism is also underway,” Dureza said.
Halal products
THE potential of Mindanao as source of Halal products for the Halal Brand Project of Brunei Darussalam can virtually change the landscape of the island. The establishment of the Brunei Halal Brand is in line with Brunei’s aggressive effort with the Islamic nation moving towards developing diversified, competitive and sustainable economy.
Dubbed as Brunei Halal Brand, it is a government project initiated by the Ministry of Industry and Primary Resources, along with the cooperation of the Brunei Islamic Religious Council, Ministry of Religious Affairs and the Ministry of Health.
