CCCI gears up for this year’s Cebu Business Month event

Riding on the theme “Soar Higher Cebu,” the Cebu Business Month (CBM) this year is conceptualized to be a grander  event than last year.

“CBM has always been the common venue for business volunteers to help the local government grow the country’s economy,” said Prudencio Gesta, Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry president, during last Saturday’s CBM launching at the Marco Polo Plaza.

The Chamber  has sustained the CBM over the years, emphasizing Cebu’s twin  drivers  of economic growth in tourism and information communication technology.

Gesta described the annual celebration as “the city’s engine towards global competitiveness.”

The  Tourism Congress scheduled on June 28 will  discuss ways to promote  the campaign for “More Fun in Cebu,” reinforcing the theme of the Department of Tourism to promote the country.

A contest for the Best   Fun Poster is running from May 15 to June 15   to encourage the public to showcase the various tourist spots in Cebu.

Winners will be announced during the Tourism Congress at the Cebu International Convention Center.

Another project,  Serbisyo Eskuela Turismo (SET), will also be launched during the Tourism Congress. This program—which involves the academe, CCCI, local governments  and the Province of Cebu—aims to train residents of certain municipalities to develop basic tourism services.

Meanwhile, Vice Gov. Agnes Magpale, who  attended the CBM launch, said the Capitol fully supports the celebration and cited various  campaigns to increase the influx of tourists.

The  Philippine Retailers Association (PRA) is expecting more than 50 exhibitors for its 6th Regional Retail Conference and Expo from June 22 to June 24 at the SM City Trade Hall.

CBM’s past programs  showcased  Cebu’s ICT-BPO (business process outsourcing) as well as micro, small and medium enterprises, said Mario Panganiban, this year’s CBM overall chairman.

He  was referring to programs such as CBM 2010’s Go Green Expo where eco-friendly products, services and technologies highlighted   ICT, tourism and entrepreneurship.

This year,  ICT and BPO Conference slated June 26 to 27  will bring in eight international speakers to discuss benchmark data and  business opportunities.

“This year, CBM will have  18 activities that will bring together people from a cross-section of industries to collaborate in order to help their respective businesses,” said Panganiban.

CBM 2012 officially starts on June 1 with the opening salvo at the Ayala Center  and ends with the Chamber Awards on June 29 at the Marco Polo Plaza. /Contributor Anabelle L. Balanzar