One Cebu Business Summit kicks off as ...

CEBU, Philippines - The first “One Cebu Business Summit” was formally opened yesterday after being changed from the original “Mandaue Business Summit,” the sole project of the Mandaue Chamber of Commerce and Industry during the yearly celebration of the Mandaue Business Month.

MCCI president Eric Mendoza said that they are holding the activity with the provincial government because of the things that could be accomplished together as “One Cebu” and also the continuous support that it has given them.

He said as the “cornerstone activity of the business month,” both parties see the summit as a way to understand the complexity of the scenario of the current economical status and come up with solutions together through the sharing of different inputs.

Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia, in her key-note speech, said that it is now “One Cebu because we draw our strength from each other.”

She said that “we sell not only our products and services, but a province,” adding if the province is known for its excellence and credibility, then all follows and the product sells themselves.

The governor also stressed the importance of helping each other saying that “we live by the reality that if one sector is not strong, then the other sectors would not be strong as well.” She said the spirit and the oneness of the Cebuanos has made Cebu number one.

The theme “Complex Challenges, innovative Solutions,” represents the Cebuanos who are known for their ability to be creative in finding means to cope up with problems such as the economic turmoil that hit economies around the globe. In the height of the financial crisis, the Cebuanos’ innovativeness was proven and ideas outpoured that helped Cebu cope better during the economic crunch.

During the summit, investment opportunities in the province were also highlighted which stressed on the industries that has given a boost to Cebu’s economy and helped it remain as a province with no debt.

Different topics were also discussed by respected personalities in the business sector like former Director General of the National Economic Development Authority Dr. Cayetano Paderanga, who tackled on the Global and Philippine Economic Outlook. Ambassador Donald Dee, the chairman emeritus of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry also shared his insights on the same issue.

Corporate Growth Strategy in the changing global environment was discussed by Ambassador Alfredo Yao, chairman if the Zest Air and Zest-O corporations and president of the management association of the Philippines Joey Bermudez and Herminio Esguerra, chairman and CEO of the Herman Group and Dean Lao Jr., the managing director of Chemrez technologies discussed to the participants the link between the environment and the businesses. — AJ de la Torre/WAB   (THE FREEMAN)