Puerto Princesa holds business forum to attract investors

MANILA, Philippines — The city government of Puerto Princesa, under the stewardship of  Mayor Lucilo Bayron, together with its private sector and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), will host a business forum on Sept. 25 at the Luzon/Visayas Ballroom of Sofitel Philippine Plaza Manila, Pasay City.

With the theme “Puerto Princesa. Your Investment. Our Commitment,” the business forum aims to present a snapshot of the diverse business opportunities that make investing in Puerto Princesa City an advantageous choice. 

Taking the stage are some of the country’s business movers and shakers: Jeffrey Ng, president of Astoria Hotels and Resorts Group and current chairman of the Subdivision and Housing Developers Association (SHDA); Maximo Ricohermoso, president of MCPI Carrageenan Corp.; Kimpearl Licup, managing director of Princesa Garden Island Resort and Spa in Puerto Princesa; Haidee Enriquez, vice president for operations of the Sitel Group; Quintin Pastrana, president of WEnergy Power Pilipinas Inc.; and Bobby Castro, chairman of the Palawan Chamber of Commerce.

Puerto Princesa has multiple competitive advantages.  It is strategically located within the growth corridor of the BIMP-East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA), with global connectivity through its new international airport (with direct flights to South Korea, Taiwan and mainland China) and a seaport that is currently undergoing modernization. 

It is an economic growth hub of Region 4-B with its rich natural resources, fertile fishing grounds and vast tracts of land available for development that provides a wide range of possibilities for agri-fishery processing, logistics, industry and services, leisure and living.

Puerto Princesa remains an attractive tourism draw to both local and foreign travelers, with visitor traveler increase of 25 percent in 2018 from 2017.  Seventy percent of visitors to Palawan go to Puerto Princesa City.  It is home to the world-famous Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site, as well as a full “mountain-to-sea” ecosystem, and some of the most important forests in Asia. Puerto Princesa enjoys the enviable position as the country’s cruise capital with a growing number of world-renowned luxury ships dropping anchor.

Under the USAID’s Strengthening Urban Resilience for Growth with Equity (SURGE) Project, Puerto Princesa’s city government has instituted sound business reforms and a better environment for investments.  It has also strengthened its public-private sector collaboration that is essential for the city to sustain local economic growth and development.

Slots to the Sept. 25 forum are limited. For further inquiries, contact the Puerto Princesa City Business Forum Secretariat at mobile numbers 0917.8128735, 0917.8274518, or e-mail [email protected]