MCCI sets four international trade missions before year-end

CEBU, Philippines - The Mandaue Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI) is gearing up for an international trade mission in at least four countries, before the year ends.

China, Australia-New Zealand, Russia, and Japan are on the chamber's priority list at least for this year, said MCCI president Glenn Soco.

In Japan, there is a pending proposal from Ayabe City, for sisterhood agreement.

MCCI will sign the sisterhood agreement with Ayabe City in Japan as soon as the schedule of the MCCI delegation will be finalized to complement the existing partnership with Ayabe City, and the Mandaue City.

"One of the features of the agreement will be cooperation on manpower deployment to Japan to cater to specific skill requirements like caregiving," said Soco.

Ayabe is a city located in Kyoto Prefecture, Japan. It is known for its vibrant textile manufacturing, and other industries.

Similarly, MCCI will also take advantage of the opening of China, as well as Russia to the Philippines following the closer ties initiated by President Rodrigo Duterte.

Riding on with the strengthening of Russia and the Philippines trade partnership under the Duterte administration, MCCI will intensify its partnership programs with sister chambers in Russia, working closely with honorary consul of the Russian Federation, Armi L. Garcia.

MCCI has existing sisterhood agreements with business chambers in Vladimir and St. Petersburg in Russia, and Turkey.

China is also one of the country priorities for MCCI for sisterhood agreements with major cities in this Chinese territory.

According to Soco there is a need for its member companies to spread its connection beyond their home-market, and launching trade missions to other countries is important to strengthen global expansions and market penetration.

Simultaneously, the chamber will also re-visit its existing sister chamber agreements in other countries, updating previous partnership agreements and see how its members are going to capitalize these alliances.

This out of country trade plan for MCCI has already delayed, but Soco said this is one of the priorities of the chamber after the celebration of the ongoing Mandaue Business Month (MBM 2017). (FREEMAN)