CAGAYAN DE ORO—Over 1,000 business leaders are gearing up for the 26th Mindanao Business Conference (MinBizCon) on September 7-9, 2017 at Xavier Sports and Country Club. As of press time, Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III will do the Opening Keynote, while Keynote Address will be delivered by Guest of Honor President Rodrigo Duterte.
This year’s theme is “Emerging Opportunities, One Mindanao.” The event is co-hosted by the CDO city government, the Misamis Oriental provincial government, and the CDO Chamber of Commerce (Oro Chamber) led by President Robert Pizarro.
Pizarro is also the Chairman of A Brown Company, Inc. (ABCI), one of the pioneers and established leaders of real estate development, agribusiness, and power in the region.
As of press time, the plenaries for the three-day conference include “DBP’s Max-Infra in the Dutertenomics” by DBP First VP Paul Lazaro; “Legislative Agenda for Mindanao SME Development” by Senate Chairman for Trade, Commerce and Entrepreneurship Hon. Migs Zubiri; “Russia: Exploring the Potentials of Mindanao” by Russian H.E. Ambassador Igor A. Khovaev; “Mindanao Industrial Eco-Zone Development and Opportunities” by PEZA Director General Charito Plaza; “Mindanao Agribusiness: Key to Positioning Mindanao Products in the ASEAN and Other Emerging Markets” by Agriculture Secretary Manny Pinol; and “Mindanao Forum on Breakthrough Technologies” by DOST Secretary Fortunato Dela Peña and Engr. Edgar Garcia of DOST-TAPI (Technology Application and Promotion Institute).
There will be panel discussions on “Building a Disaster-resilient Economy in Mindanao” by geologist and ABCI Chairman Dr. Walter Brown, economist Dr. Bernie Villegas, and Emerging Power, Inc. CEO Guido Delgado; and on “Accessing Domestic and International Markets/Taking Advantage of the Bilateral Trade Agreements” by DTI Secretary Ramon Lopez, Mindanao Business Council Chairman Vicente Lao, and Dr. Henry Basilio of USAID COMPETE (Advancing Philippine Competitiveness).
Apart from trade exhibits, business matching, and workshops, the “Go Mindanao” Tour Buses will be launched during the event.
The conference is held under the auspices of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) led by President George Barcelon. According to Chairman Ruben Vegafria, the 26th MinBizCon is the largest annual gathering of business leaders, stakeholders, policy makers, and professionals both from government and private sectors to advocate issues and adopt resolutions affecting business, which form part of the policy agenda submitted by PCCI to President Duterte at the 43rd Philippine Business Conference in October. This year’s theme in particular aims to set the stage for discussing innovative strategies towards building a strong and more resilient economy. •
