Iloilo’s bullish business climate affirmed Metro Iloilo’s bullish business climate was highlighted during a recent roadshow here of the National Competitiveness Council (NCC), the public-private task force under the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI). NCC program officer Marina Saldaña said Metro Iloilo is “fast moving as a top competitive economic hub outside of Metro Manila.” Saldaña pointed out that this was affirmed when the capital city of Iloilo ranked second in the NCC’s 2013 Cities and Municipalities Competitiveness Index, which is backed by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) under the latter’s Investment Enabling Environment (INVEST) project. Survey firm Social Weather Stations (SWS) also found Metro Iloilo to have the highest positive business perception in the country with an 86 percent rating. The results of the SWS’s 2013 Annual Enterprise Survey on Corruption was unveiled to both private and government sectors by SWS president, Mahar Mangahas Saldaña said Metro Iloilo can further boost its economic competitiveness by incorporating government efficiency in dealing with the business community, especially in making it easier for business to process permits and other necessary documents. The roadshow was only a day after the country’s biggest conglomerates pledged to infuse more investments to both the city and province of Iloilo. It was reported that investment pledges during the “Iloilo Means Business” forum in Makati City reached more than P100 billion for projects in the city and province within the next five years. Among the firms which announced plans to pour in funds in the province is Ayala Land Inc. (ALI) which will spend as much as P25 billion in the next 10 years. Speaking at the recent Iloilo Means Business forum held in Makati City, ALI president and chief executive officer Antonino Aquino said the firm has already spent about P2 billion a year over the past two years for projects in the province and the plan is to sustain that level of commitment in the next five to 10 years. “Our vision is to develop something similar to what we did in El Nido, Palawan in North Iloilo. We will be investing a billion a year in the next five years for that particular venture,” he added. For his part, Kevin Andrew Tan, first vice president and head of commercial division at Megaworld Corp. said in the same event that Megamall will be spending P35 billion in the next 10 years for the development of the 72-hectare Iloilo Business Park, which would have office as well as retail spaces. The Iloilo Business Park, by far, is the largest township in the Philippines,” he said. mb.ph/iloilos-bullish-business-climate-affirmed/
Posted on: Wed, 26 Mar 2014 20:22:59 +0000
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