CCCI focuses on tie-ups with foreign chambers

The Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) has taken a stronger initiative in establishing relationships with foreign chambers based in the country to encourage more investments.

Aside from holding trade missions, their thrust is to increase the inflow of information to different chambers based here, said CCCI president Lito Maderazo during yesterday’s general membership meeting at the City Sports Club.

“The strategy now is to strengthen relationships with these different chambers like the Canadian Chamber of Commerce in the Philippines with whom we recently signed a partnership as well as the Norwegian and Australian chambers,” Maderazo said.

Recently, Norwegian Ambassador Knut Solem showed the Cebu Chamber officials what opportunities his country can offer Cebu businessmen.

“They already have $240 billion worth of investments here. They’re into energy, mining and maritime industry employing our seafarers,” Maderazo said.

He said CCCI has committed to share and exchange more information with the Norwegian embassy.

Major Norwegian companies with presence in Cebu include British Armour and Timex.

“They are keen on the BPO industry here,” Maderazo said.

With many fishermen also affected with the supertyphoon Yolanda, Maderazo said the Norwegian Embassy is in close contact with the Cebu provincial government to provide assistance to fishing communities.

“They are willing to provide technical assistance to our fishermen like building stronger and more typhoon-resilient fishing boats. These are the kind of partnerships that we would like to foster,” Maderazo said.

PARTNERSHIP

The CCCI is also focusing on reconstruction efforts next year to continue to provide assistance to typhoon victims.

Consul Antonio Chiu said that the chamber continues to extend help to distressed areas in northern Cebu and is raising their needs with foreign organizations that are willing to help in the reconstruction efforts

Maderazo said members in the construction industry have also committed to extend discounts to donors engaged in the reconstruction campaign.

During yesterday’s general membership meeting, 70 new companies joined the CCCI, increasing the list to 719, said Melanie Ng, CCCI vice president for membership.