MCCI to join Capitol in Russia trade mission

CEBU, Philippines — Some members of the Mandaue Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI) will be joining the Russia Trade Mission to St. Petersburg this coming May 31 to June 9, 2024.

Organized by the Cebu Provincial government led by Governor Gwendolyn Garcia, MCCI president Mark Ynoc said five MCCI members, including him, will be joining the outbound trade mission.

According to Ynoc, the St. Petersburg International Forum will also be happening during their10-day business excursion.

“This was quite short notice and we are working double time with Russian Consul Armie Garcia to work on areas of cooperation with St. Petersburg,” said Ynoc.

The Cebu Provincial Government and the Russian region of St. Petersburg are exploring yet again the possibility of renewing their sisterhood pact, which already expired after it was first signed in 2009.

In his visit to Cebu early this year, Russian Ambassador to the Philippines Marat Pavlov extended the invitation to Garcia on the St. Peterburg International Forum.

In an earlier report, Pavlov told Gov. Garcia that in 2023, St. Petersburg conducted an economic forum where a proposal on reviving and strengthening its cooperation with Cebu Province was raised.

In 2009, during Gov. Garcia’s second term in office, Cebu Province and St. Petersburg signed a 5-year sisterhood agreement to expand their cooperation in the fields of tourism, socio-cultural, and economic development.

St. Petersburg is Russia’s second most important economic, scientific, and cultural center after Moscow.

In an earlier interview, Pavlov said the Russian Federation government is interested to cooper to cooperating with the Philippines’ bid to develop its energy sector, particularly in the establishment of nuclear energy plants across the country.

The Ambassador also expressed interest in pursuing cooperation in nuclear energy explorations in Cebu and other parts of the country, depending on the initiatives of the LGU (local government unit) executives.

Aside from energy, the Marcos administration has an ongoing discussion with the Russian government on agriculture development particularly in fertilizer supply, among others.

Another interest of cooperation is also in the fields of railway construction, helping Philippine cities in their ambition to establish Smart City systems, technology, and digitalization, real estate developments, and cultural and artistic investments, among others. — (FREEMAN)