Chinese and Hong Kong businessmen visit Iloilo for a return mission

A group of businessmen from Hainan, China and Hong Kong visited Iloilo last May 18-20, 2017. This 3-day visit took place a month after the successful investment forum in Hongkong organized by the Philippine Association of Hong Kong.  The Iloilo City and Provincial governments and the private sector led by ILED Foundation and Palm Concepcion Power Corporation participated in the Hongkong forum.

The Chinese businessmen from the Hong Kong Hainan Commercial Association and Hong Kong Economic Trade Association enjoyed the world-famous Ilonggo hospitality, starting with the Welcome Dinner hosted by Governor Arthur Defensor Sr. together with prominent Filipino-Chinese businessmen in Iloilo.

An investment forum was organized by the Iloilo City government to showcase major investments.  Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog presented the SMART (services, manufacturing, agribusiness, arts and culture, research and technology) investment priorities of the city.  Mr. Jessraf Palmares of Iloilo Federation of Information Technology explained why and how Iloilo became a center for excellence in the IT-BPM industry.

In depth industry tours and meetings were arranged according to the interests of the businessmen. A meeting with the academe, attended by CPU, UP, WVSU, and USA, was conducted in CPU to discuss academic partnerships.  A tour of a local BPO company was organized by IFIT.  Another group visited the Palm Concepcion Power Plant in Concepcion.

A business matching event was likewise organized by the Board of Investments Visayas to provide information to the Chinese businessmen of the groups who are open for partnership, the process of investing in Iloilo, and the cost of doing business.

Mr. Vincent Hon of Hong Kong Hainan Commercial Association and Prof. Danny Chau of the Hong Kong Economic Trade Association expressed their excitement to build connections with Iloilo, specifically in the social enterprise, tourism and BPO industries. They added that Ilonggo businessmen are welcome to explore trade ties with Hong Kong.