Surigao Chamber of Commerce officially launches 25th Minbizcon slated on August

BY: BEN SERRANO
Correspondent

SURIGAO City – The Surigao Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) successfully held the official launching of the 25th Mindanao Business Conference on Thursday during their Steering Committee Meeting at the Governor’s Mansion, Provincial Capitol, Surigao City.

The said meeting was spearheaded by SCCI and attended by top local officials of the province of Surigao del Norte headed by Governor Sol. Forcadilla Matugas and Surigao City officials headed by Surigao City Mayor Ernesto Matugas.

On the business sector side, it was attended by Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry Vice President for Mindanao Antonio Uy; PCCI Regional Governor for Eastern MIndanao Sisinio Narisma who is Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) Butuan City branch manager and Concepcion R. Paqueo, SCCI president.

According to the 25th MinBizCon general coordinator Jun Piong, this year’s annual business gathering, is scheduled on August 24-26, 2016 at Philippine Gateway Hotel here in Surigao City, but it is still tentative.

“It is tentatively scheduled since it will depend now on the schedule of the new elected President by then who will be the conference keynote speaker,” Piong said.

The meeting tackled road clocks or obstacles that’s hindering Mindanao’s capability to sustain economic growth that is inclusive and identifying sectors with slow growth particularly in the Agricultural and Tourism sector.

Surigao del Norte succeeded in tourism growth while Davao, Misamis, Agusan del Sur and Bukidnon had potentials for 100$ success rate in terms of growth.

Others to be discuss in this year’s 25th MinBizCon are vital issues like slow internet connection in almost all parts of Mindanao especially in Caraga Region, perennial interconnection problems of telephone companies despite presence of interconnection law, peace and security, climate change and power issues due high electricity rates and outages, use of renewable sources of energies which are abundant in Mindanao but untapped.

For their part, the Surigao Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) President Concepcion R. Paqueo said activities are also being prepared like business matching, trade fair and exhibit, Island Tours, Industrial Excursion in THPAL, Fellowship Nights and Chamber Presidents’ Breakfast meetings will be held.

“It will also be historical since the Keynote Speaker for the 25th MinBizCon is the new elected President”, Paqueo added.

Paqueo said the conference will highlight Surigao City, province and region’s investment potentials, push policy agenda and recommendations needed by the region and gives direct economic benefits from the activities like souvenirs, catering, transportation and tours.

For her part, Surigao del Norte Governor Sol Forcadilla Matugas stressed that the decision to make Surigao City the venue of the 25th Mindanao Business Conference was because of the good peace and order situation in the city, the availability of hotels and facilities, and the support of local government units in the area.