Cebu Gov. Hilario Davide III exchanges gifts with Vice Gov. Osamu Shiokawa of Saitama prefecture. (CAPITOL PIO PHOTO)
Cebu Gov. Hilario Davide III said he has convinced five potential investors from Japan to visit and explore business opportunities in Cebu.
Two are government units, Saitama prefecture and Yokohama City, while three are private companies.
Davide just returned from a five-day official visit.
No date has been set for the visit of potential investors. But Capitol consultant Jing Lachica and Cebu investment promotions center head Benjamin Joseph Yap will communicate regularly with them.
“Basically, it was fruitful, productive because some of these private companies have expressed interest in coming to Cebu and sharing their best practices,” said Davide, who was invited to join the Asia Public Private Institute.
On the first day, Davide spoke in Toyo University in Tokyo during the 10th International Public Partnership Forum where he presented potential projects.
These included a Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) research center, and the redevelopment of a portion of the Cebu South Bus Terminal.
Several representatives from Japanese companies and officials from Saitama and Yokohama attended.
Davide also spoke with former Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad and UN official Dr. Jeffrey Hamilton about possible PPP projects in Cebu.
He met separately with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) vice president about expanding the road map study of Mega Cebu 2050 to include the entire province of Cebu.
“What they suggested was to have this approved by NEDA (the National Economic Development Authority Board,” said Davide.
He traveled to Japan with Provincial Board Members Christopher Baricuatro, Peter John Calderon, and Jude Thaddus Sybico.
The delegation included Sogod Mayor Liza Marie Durano-Streegan and husband Sogod Vice Mayor Ricahrd Streegan, Samboan Mayor Raymund Joseph Claderon, BJ Yap who heads the Cebu investments promotion office and Capitol consultant Jing Lachica.