text DARWIN WEE
Mindanao's economy with its dynamic investment hub areas that include the Zamboanga peninsula takes another step forward as the chairmanship of the BIMP-EAGA (Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippine- East ASEAN Growth Area) Business Council (BEBC) was formally handed over by Malaysia to the Philippines last March 15.
Zamboanga Chamber of Commerce and Industry Foundation, Inc., (ZCCIFI)Executive Director Severino M. Landingin said the Philippines through the Mindanao Business Council (MBC) as the new chairman of the BEBC has vowed to improve the free trade linkages between the BIMP-EAGA's sub-regions.
"With its chairmanship of the BEBC, the MBC is now challenged to exert efforts to pave the way for strategic policy recommendations to strengthen the economic ties between the BIMP-EAGA regions," he said.
EAGA is comprised of the entire sultanate of Brunei Darussalam; 10 provinces in the Indonesian islands of Kalimantan, Sulawesi, Maluku,and Irian Jaya; Sabah, Sarawak, and Labuan in Malaysia; and Mindanao and Palawan in the Philippines.
Its land area of roughly 1.54 million square kilometers is home to about 45.6 million people. It is a joint public-private sector mechanism designed to mobilize investment and trade opportunities for the business community through initiatives of the four member governments.
Countries that are members of the EAGA have forged an agreement to achieve certain objectives, which include facilitating the free movement of people, goods, and services; share common infrastructure and natural resources; and pursue economic complementation.
Landingin said Romeo Serra, who is currently the chairman of the MBC, also sits as the new BEBC chairman. Mr. Serra said he will give the MBC a year to support the BEBC to prove its capacity to deliver projects that would boost economic activities within the region.
Meanwhile, ZCCIFI executive director said Mr. Serra is expected to visit Zamboanga City on April 5 to launch the promotional campaign and the official logo of this year 15th Mindanao Business Conference (Minbizcon), which the city will host from August 31 to September 2.
In a separate interview, Philippine Chamber of Commerce, Inc. (PCCI) regional governor for Western Mindanao Teresita Uy Sebastian said the job given to Zamboanga to be this year's Minbizcon host will boost the local business sector to promote the city as a safe and peaceful place to visit and invest in.
She said Zamboanga was chosen as the venue for the main plenary of the Minbizcon in order to "promote the city to the rest of not only Mindanao but to the international business community in the Philippines and to the world."
Landingin said the city and the Zamboanga Chamber of Commerce and Industry Foundation Inc. are fortunate enough to host the activity for the second time. The first came during the 6th Minbizcon in 1997.
This year's theme of "Mindanao: The Best of The Philippines," will serve as an occasion to review and examine programs that will help boost the local products especially the huge agricultural sector of Mindanao and the critical role of the small and medium enterprises (SME) in countryside development.
ZCCIFI is expected to draw in all the big traders in Mindanao and other parts of the country, as well as those from the BIMP-EAGA, which stand to benefit from the various sessions and activities of the conference.
"It is expected that at least 1,000 businessmen from all over thecountry and the BIMP-EAGA Region, foreign dignitaries and foreign investors who are willing to do business in Mindanao especially Zamboanga city will be attending," Landingin said.
The Minbizcon is an annual conference of all businessmen in the island of Mindanao and had been held in different regions of the island since 1992. Its main objective is to promote Mindanao as an investment haven andto serve as venue for the enactment of resolutions that would address the concerns and problems of Mindanao businessmen. (ZS)
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