CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) is set to create a cluster chamber in the City of Naga as the city positions itself as a preferred investment hub in the south.
CCCI president Ma. Teresa B. Chan announced yesterday that a Naga City Chamber of Commerce and Industry will be formed early next month, as the city needs to have a solid group to serve as voice of the private sector that will also include a membership-base from other neighboring towns.
"We have been planning to look for open , yet big localities wherein business communities are open and active," said Chan.
Naga City, Chan said is a very good location to set a cluster chamber because of its strategic location and the business sector is active. Likewise, its potential to attract investors is high.
Next in line, Chan said is the creation of two cluster chambers in the cities of Bogo and Toledo.
"These groups will be an extension of CCCI in far-flung areas of Cebu. We are going to help them become a legitimate, and advocacy-driven business groups not just a mere social club," said Chan.
CCCI will be assisted by an NGO group "WECan", in institutionalizing the formation of cluster business chambers in countryside.
This move according to Chan will accelerate CCCI's plan to make a closer partnership with local government units (LGUs) in each town and cities in Cebu to pursue a more harmonious developmental goals as well as make faster and progressive implementation of planned projects.
Just like CCCI that has been the mouthpiece of the business sector in Cebu, these cluster chambers will also help their members to craft advocacies that help business players solve their concerns, specifically with regards to government policies, and other issues.
With this, the organized business groups in component cities of Cebu that will get membership from neighboring towns and municipalities will have a stronger voice and capacity to partner with their respective LGUs.
Also, these cluster chambers will also hold and organize events that will promote their respective industries, as well as continuous business updates and seminars to further capacitate countryside business players in handling robust growth direction of Cebu.
This plan is a spin-off idea following the announcement of CCCI to mount an aggressive move to partner with LGUs in the entire province of Cebu.
Realizing the crucial role of LGUs to sustain Cebu's growth in the long term, CCCI will lead in institutionalizing the partnership between the private sector and the LGUs starting this year.
In Metro Cebu, aside from CCCI, the other business groups are Mandaue Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Lapu-Lapu Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Consolacion Chamber of Commerce and industry and Compostela Chamber of Commerce and Industry. (FREEMAN)
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