MinBizCon eyes trade ties with Asia Pacific countries

The 18th Mindanao Business Conference (MinBizCon) on September 14 at the Fir Mart Convention Center in Koronadal City will take up the country’s trade prospects with Asia Pacific countries.
However, the analyses portion along with the discussion of trade prospects will take place on September 17 to 18.
Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) president Edgar Lacson said Australia and New Zealand will participate in the conference.
Mindanao, being an agro-industrial hub, is looking at its competitive edge globally, hence the Minbizcon it will devote a plenary session for discussion of the ASEAN Free Trade Agreement that will take effect in 2010.
Carlito Uy, conference director and president of South Cotabato Chamber of Commerce and Industry Foundation, Inc., said the business conference will also include business matching sessions that highlight opportunities in agriculture, energy, business process outsourcing, tourism and other sectors.
He said it is necessary for the businesses to improve and contribute to the economic growth as the island of Mindanao keeps abreast of global developments.
The conference will close with the formal presentation of the “2009 Mindanao Policy Agenda”, which covers policy issues requiring government action and private sector commitments.
Meanwhile, PCCI vice president for Mindanao Elena Haw noted that Mindanao’s agricultural-based sector helped cushion the region from the recent global economic turmoil.
“We should use this to strengthen our industries and infrastructure, and make sure that policies are in place in time to take advantage of coming economic upturns,” Haw said.
This year’s MinBizCon is organized by PCCI and hosted by the South Cotabato Chamber of Commerce, with support from the provincial government; the Koronadal City government; the Department of Trade and Industry; USAID’s Growth with Equity in Mindanao (GEM) Program, and other partners.
The MinBizCon’s auxilliary events include city and industrial tours, and a charity golf tournament at the Kalsangi Golf and Country Club in Polomolok.
At least 500 delegates are expected to attend, including a business contingent from the Brunei Darussalam-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA).
The city of Koronadal, which is also known as “Marbel,” is a commercial hub in a fast-developing agro-industrial area that includes the provinces of South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani, and General Santos.