Int’l forum in May to bring 200 global leaders to Cebu

Young Global Leaders John Echauz, Karen Davila and Winston Damarillo sign an agreement for the hosting in Cebu of the event OCEAN 2014 with president Tesss Chan of the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and president Philip Tan of the Mandaue Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

CEBU will host next month a a segment of the World Economic Forum (WEF) that will allow “the best ideas to make a difference in the world” reach various communities.

About 200 leaders from the private and public sector, including under-30 local youth leaders, are scheduled to converge here for extended discussions in an event called the Open Collaboration with East Asia New Champions (OCEAN) 2014.

“We want to showcase Cebu as a nexus of good ideas,” said IT venture capitalist Winston Damarillo, one of three WEF Young Global Leaders from the Philippines, along with TV broadcaster Karen Davila and Manila entrepeneur John Echauz.

It will be the first time in 23 years for the WEF, which usually holds its conference in Davos, Switzerland, to have its conference in the Philippines.

After the main WEF conference in Makati Shangri-La on May 22-23, several delegates will come to Cebu for the OCEAN 2014 on May 23 to 25 at Movenpick Resort and Spa in Lapu-Lapu City.

“The WEF is the biggest nonprofit organization in the world and the most effective platform for development and collaboration,” said Damarillo, OCEAN summit chairman.

“Having the Young Global Leaders event here in Cebu will help bring the topics discussed in the main forum down to the community and make it more relevant,” he said.

OCEAN “aims to gather the New Champions, thought leaders and Filipino change-makers in Cebu for three days of networking and dialog on social and economic development,” said organizers.

The Cebu summit was billed as an opportunty to allow Filipino leaders “to drive partnerships with the world’s most powerful innovators.”

Showcase

Davila, an ABS-CBN news anchor, said important decisions and partnerships are expected to be made during the forum.

“Having attended the WEF forums in the past, we always felt that Cebu should be showcased and this (summit) is that opportunity,” she said.

About 70 delegates from the main forum will come to Cebu, with 150 senior level leaders, and 100 local participants from different sectors.

Damarillo said young global leaders from Japan, Silicon Valley, New York, China, Indonesia, Malaysia and Hong Kong as well as experts from Massachusetts Institute University, Harvard University and Georgetown University were invited to the event.

Senators Bam Aquino and Chiz Escudero signified their commitment to attend, Damarillo said.

Framework

Davila said the summit will focus on various issues, incuding climate change, and disaster and calamity preparedness.

“There will also be sessions that highlight Cebu’s strengths such as innovation and outsourcing which some delegates may not know Cebu has been doing,” she said.

She said they chose Movenpick as the venue because it was “intimate, unique” and shows the spirit of Cebuano hospitaity and warmth”.

Meanwhile, Damarillo said they will develop a framework for creating Innovation Zones for startup and entrepreneurs working in high-risk, high-reward ventures.

“We will build this from the successful model of the PEZA economic zones. We want to learn from foreign experts what will work when doing this,” he said.

Ma. Teresa Chan, Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry president, said the chamber will be helping the group identify leaders who can put forth innovative ideas.

Gov. Hilario Davide III said the event will be Cebu’s opportunity to talk to world leaders and show them what the province can offer.