CCCI forges links with Ilocos traders

CEBU, Philippines – Some Cebu-based traders have successfully partnered with some raw material suppliers, and other industry players in the Ilocos region, this after 24 members of the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) completed its four-day trade mission to these areas in northern Luzon.

"Ilocos region has a lot of raw materials that we can use for our export products, like their good quality of wood," said Cristina Lo, the chairperson of the Laoag and Vigan trade and business mission in a press conference held recently.

Lo said while this first inter-Philippine trade mission has given a lot of benefits to the participating members, she said there is a possibility that the organization may pursue more trade missions within the Philippines, to ink partnership with Filipino traders and chamber of commerce and industry organizations in different regions.

The group's recent visit to the Ilocos region, has given a window of opportunity for Cebuano businessmen to strengthen local partnership and collaboration, amid the unpre-dictable global market performance.

"We are trying to assist each other when it comes to sophistication of food packaging. We also learned a lot from them like their concept on how we can present the Philip-pine-made products that have ultimate expression of being distinctly Filipino," Lo said.

Although CCCI's main thrust is to pursue trade partnership with international business organizations, by organizing trade mission to other countries in Asia, USA, and Europe, including the Middle East, the chamber on the other hand, is also jumpstarting its strong move to link with business organizations and local government units (LGUs) in other regions.

Lo said its Vigan, Laoag City trade mission, Cebuano traders offered their expertise to this region's industry players, and may start off as a "Big Brother" to start-up industries in other regions that need help from Cebu-based successful industry players.

Lo added that while Vigan is an established destination in the Philippines, both cities can also work together in exchanging tourism strategies, and tourism-related trade to boost each area's tourism sector.

The group was able to meet with officials from the Vigan Chamber of Commerce and Industry headed by its President Dr. Esperanza Lahoz and Filipino-Chinese Chamber of Commerce in Vigan led by President Cirilo Lao.

The business matching was pre-arranged by the City Tourism and Investment Promotions Officer Edgar De La Cruz, of which most of its members are into Construction, Hardware, Mall, Hotel & Resort operations, hospital, realty, food and restaurant, distributors of longaniza and other meat products, antiques, and furnitures, Vigan jars and to-bacco business.

According to Lo, businessmen from Ilocos region expressed interest to join next year's Cebu Business Month (CBM) to formalize the two regions' strong partnership in trade and commerce. (FREEMAN)