The Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry issued a manifesto of full support for the Negros Island Region (NIR) at its 33rd Visayas Area Business Conference (VABC) in Iloilo City on Friday, July 26.
Edward Du, Negros Oriental Chamber of Commerce and Industry president, thanked PCCI Visayas led by Melanie Ng for the manifesto of support.
PCCI Visayas shall actively promote investment opportunities in the NIR, particularly involving public private partnerships, the manifesto said.
“We prosper together as one Visayas,” it said.
It also urged the business chambers in the new region to create separate NIR business chamber.
Victorias Mayor Javier Miguel “Javi” Benitez, who delivered the keynote speech at the closing of the 33rd VABC on Saturday, stressed the crucial role of local government units (LGUs) in supporting businesses of all sizes.
He called for leadership grounded in knowledge and data, urging fellow government officials and business leaders to make informed decisions that benefit their communities.
Benitez, who also highlighted the strong bonds within the Visayas, said “We are always family, even if we’re an island away”.
Benitez reaffirmed his commitment as a government official to address pressing issues and highlight the needs of local entrepreneurs.
He stressed the importance of creating an enabling environment for businesses to thrive, promising to work towards reducing bureaucratic hurdles and fostering innovation.
The theme of the conference was “Empowering Business Innovations for an Enriched one Visayas”.
