CCCI seeks to strengthen business ties with Norway

CEBU, Philippines - As part of its strong positioning strategy to the world market, the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) has started to link with different business chambers around the globe.

CCCI President Lito Maderazo announced that following its formal memorandum of  understanding (MOU) with the Canadian Chamber of Commerce in the Philippines (CanCham) which will pave the way for Cebu businesses to network with Canadian businessmen in Northern America, the group is set to sign another agreement with Norwegian Chamber of Commerce.

According to Maderazo, CCCI has already been in series of meetings with the Philippine Norway Business Council for a possibility of exploring opportunities in Norway, as well as showing Norwegian businesses the prospects for investments in Cebu.

He said the chamber’s linkages with different international chamber of commerce is just an additional to the existing partnerships inked by the CCCI in the past years with varied business and trade organizations in other countries.

Initially, he said CCCI and the Philippine Norway Business Council will talk on the Norwegians' strong interest in energy, mining, and possible recruitments of Filipino sea-farers to their country.

Already, Norwegian investments to the Philippines reached to US$240 million. “We have committed to exchange information and develop stronger relationship,” said Maderazo.

Norway is the world’s number one fish exporter. This is one of the possibilities that Cebu will be able to take advantage of, as initial talks have been started for Norwegian businesses to help the marginal fishermen in Northern Cebu who were affected by the recent typhoon Yolanda.

The Scandinavian country, which has been crowned the most prosperous country in the world for the fifth year based on Legatum Prosperity Index, is seen to provide good advantage for the displaced northern Cebu fishermen in terms of providing them technical assistance.

According to Maderazo, Norwegian businessmen expressed willingness to teach Cebuano fishermen in building sturdy boats that would withstand stronger typhoons and which would be more resilient to dangerous weather disturbances.

Aside from fishing, mining, energy, finance, Norwegian businessmen also expressed interest in investing in business process management (BPM) in Cebu.

Earlier, the CCCI has signed a memorandum of cooperation (MOC) with CanCham to further invigorate trade and investment exchanges between Canada and Cebu.

Maderazo said that the partnership is seen to enhance Cebu's visibility to Canadian investors, as well as opening doors for Cebuano companies to learn and connect with Canadian business players.

Even before the signing of the MOC, the two chambers had already done development projects together. The most recent was the support of CanCham to CCCI's relief operations to Bohol, northern Cebu and Tacloban.

"There are a lot of opportunities in the provinces," Maderazo said adding that part of the livelihood program is to teach farmers and fishermen in improving their trade and unlocking the new way of doing their skills.

Both CanCham and the Norwegian Business Council vowed to help CCCI in providing livelihood opportunities for typhoon affected residents in Cebu and Tacloban, as well as in earthquake-hit Bohol. /JMD (FREEMAN)