Top investors, Cebu business champions honored

Cebu Gov. Hilario Davide III and Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama, Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry President Tess Chan and Cebu Business Month Felix Tiukinhoy, Jr. pay homage to the awardees during the Tourism and Investments Night. (CDN PHOTO/ TONEE DESPOJO)

Six companies, three organizations and a European Chamber of Commerce official were awarded for helping boost Cebu’s economy during the Tourism and Investments Night of the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry held at the Radisson Hotel last Friday evening.

Sabino Dapat, event committee chairman, said each awardee showed how “coopetition” or cooperation while being on top of competition can help a community.

“These awardees are the Cebuanos’ champions to the world,” he said.

The Tourism and Investments Night marks the first time that the Cebu Chamber gave special recognition to groups and persons who  helped propel Cebu to be a global tourism and investment destination.

The awardees were Timex Philippines, Inc., Norwegian Ship-Owners Association (NSOA), Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), Hotels, Resorts and Restaurant Association of Cebu (HRRAC), European Chamber of Commerce in the Philippines vice president for external affairs Mr. Henry Schumacher, Fairchild Semiconductors (Philippines), Inc., Cebu Mitsumi, Inc., Tsuneishi Heavy Industries (Cebu), Inc., Ayala Group of Companies and Aboitiz Group of Companies.

Instrumental
Schumacher was described by Dapat as a German by nationality but a Filipino by heart for his success in promoting Filipino small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to the global market.

“He was instrumental in the development of the SMEs in Cebu including those in the health and wellness sector, medical tourism, home accessories, food processing and more,”  Dapat said.

Other awardees like Timex, NSOA, Fairchild Semiconductors, Cebu Mitsumi and Tsuneishi all provided employment  and exposure to Cebuanos developing them into skillful and creative workers.

“Ayala Group helped carve Cebu’s economy through the two districts it developed in Cebu which is now home to diverse enterprises including the rich ICT/BPM industry,” Dapat said.

Dapat said the Aboitiz Group showed to the world that Cebuano companies are competitive and can contribute much to the country’s economic development by being the largest player in the country’s power industry.

Contributions
He said JICA has been extending support to Cebu since 1989 when the Cebu Mactan Airport was first developed.

The Japanese aid agency helped in infrastructure projects and supports the Mega Cebu 2050 vision of a sustainable and livable Cebu.

In his acceptance speech Jaime Jose Y. Aboitiz, AboitizPower distribution vice president and chief operating officer, said the company and other awardees are committed to making meaningful contributions to Cebu.

“We look forward to more partnerships with you especially in the coming Asean integration that opens up a lot of opportunities for us,” he said.

In his speech, Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama said he was asked by visiting Chinese businessmen what Cebu can offer to investors like them.

“I told them Cebu has its people. We have the people – both private and public sectors working hand-in-hand to ensure that Cebu achieves its goals,” he said.

The Tourism and Investments Night was part of the month-long Cebu Business Month celebration chaired by Felix O. Tiukinhoy, Jr. in cooperation with the Cebu city and provincial governments.