Cebu to host an international confab in 2013

CEBU, Philippines - After Cebu lost its bid to host the Ad Congress this year, another door is opened as Cebu was chosen as the venue for the International Conference of the Confederation of Asia-Pacific Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CACCI) this coming 2013.

Cebu, through the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) won the bid to host the prestigious conference of business owners and chief executive officers (CEOs) in 27 countries of Asia-Pacific region.

CCCI president Samuel Chioson announced in a press conference that the bidding was held during the recently concluded CACCI Conference held in Istanbul, Turkey, and the Philippines (Cebu) outsmarted other four interested countries that participated in the bid that include Pakistan, Iran, Japan, and Korea.

CCCI former president and head for the Turkey trade mission, Francis Monera said easily about over 500 business leaders from the region will come to Cebu during the upcoming CACCI Conference, and that works to improve attractiveness will soon be started in partnership with the Local Government Units (LGUs) and private sector stakeholders.

“This is the best time to showcase Cebu to hundreds of investors. We should make Cebu much more attractive in investments and tourism,” Monera said.

This early, CCCI already formed a CACCI Conference 2013 Committee to coordinate the preparation headed by CCCI past President Jose Ng.

According to Ng, part of the initial plan is also to invite delegates from non CACCI members, or those business leaders in other countries outside the Asia Pacific region.

Monera said   it was not difficult to bid Cebu as the 2013 CACCI Conference host, as the province has already established a good brand in the international market.

Now, the challenge is to meet the expectation of delegates about Cebu’s strong brand, Monera said.

During the bidding presentation conducted by Monera, he said the CCCI promoted Cebu as a “bustling Metropolis” which is ideal for business and leisure (tourism).

 Cebu should impress the delegates, after all they are the decision makers for big ticket investments, Monera said.

In the next few months, officers from the CACCI will visit Cebu for the ocular inspection of the possible venue and accommodation facilities.

This is the first time that Cebu was chosen as the host of CACCI event, although a previous Conference of the organization was held in Manila few years back.

CCCI which is also heavily promoting tourism growth for Cebu, will also formulate a good tour package for the delegates, after the two-day Conference tentatively set on the third quarter of 2013, immediately after the election.

“We still have two years to prepare. Definitely, delegates will not only come from the Asia Pacific region, but we will also invite chamber of commerce members in the United States, and Europe,” said Ng. (FREEMAN)