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.
Article continues after this advertisementWinners will be announced during the Tourism Congress at the Cebu International Convention Center.
Article continues after this advertisementAnother 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
