Asean integration-flavored CBM ready for May 30 launch

The Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) is set to kick off this year’s month-long celebration of the Cebu Business Month (CBM) on May 30 with the theme Asean 2015 and Beyond.

This year’s activities aim to help industries especially those in the major pillars – ICT/BPO (information communications technology/business process outsourcing), tourism, entrepreneurship and creative industry— to better prepare for the full economic integration of all

Asean member nations next year, said Felix Tiukinhoy Jr., CBM 2014 overall chairman, during Friday’s briefing at the Marco Polo Plaza Cebu.

“With Asean integration going full blast next year many see challenges but we all know that the flip side of these challenges are opportunities so we have planned activities that will help us maximize these opportunities,” said Tiukinhoy.

All of the activities will have a flavor of the Asean integration to it, said Lito Maderazo, CCCI past president and committee chair for Asean.

“We are in the process of developing Industry Road Maps for all key industries and we will soon launch these road maps,” said Maderazo.

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Aside from the usual forums for entrepreneurs, ICT/BPO, creative industry and tourism and investments, they are bringing in top executives from the government for a roundtable discussion on where Cebu’s economy is heading and what needs to be done to achieve this.

Sabino Dapat, committee chairman for the Tourism and Investments event, said that on June 20, there will be a roundtable discussion with the director general of the National Economic Development Authority (Neda), the Secretaries of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Department of Tourism (DOT), Budget Secretary and Secretary Rene Almendras together with Cebu Gov. Hilario Davide III.

“We are also trying to invite President Benigno Aquino III to grace the event as we will also be giving tribute to Cebuano businessmen who contributed a lot in shaping Cebu’s economic development,” said Dapat.

A second “Cebu in the Bag” sale will also run during the whole month of June which includes bodega sales by major exporters in Cebu as well as the major malls.

The Cebu Business Month will officially start on May 30 with an Opening Salvo that will be held at the Ayala Center Cebu.

According to CCCI president Ma. Teresa Chan, they hope that entrepreneurs will be able to learn more from the advocacies and activities that will be held the whole month.

“CBM has become a venue where entrepreneurs gather and learn more. Through the activities lined up, CCCI hopes to continue to be a driver for Cebu’s more robust economic growth,” said Chan.

Tiukinhoy also recalled the challenges of sourcing sponsorships for this year’s event because of the calamities that hit Central Visayas last year.

Tiukinhoy and his team said they were also thankful that they still got the same level of support from the Provincial and city government this year.

“We are thankful to both Cebu Province and Cebu City for still supporting us. Their support is in the same amount as previous years,” he said of Capitol’s P3 million donation for the CBM.

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