The European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (ECCP) has called on investors to start manufacturing investments in Mindanao.“The ECCP believes that not only in the Davao level, we strongly believe that the country needs to support its manufacturing sector,” Nabil Francis of the ECCP told reporters Monday during the signing of manifesto of support to the Investment Conference (Icon) of the Davao City Chamber of Commerce and Industry Inc.
Francis said that when it comes to manufacturing in the Philippines, “the island of Mindanao is still lagging behind.”
He also indicated that by increasing support to the sector, “there will be more positive effects like additional job positions, additional investments and taxes.”
“In Mindanao, more than anywhere else in the Philippines, we are gaining most potential. If we look at the recent investment pledges, I think it is very encouraging,” he said.
In the upcoming ICon, the ECCP vowed its support to the event by encouraging its members to join and invest in the manufacturing sector, which is among the key sectors that the event will focus on.
“The role of the ECCP (is) in linking the Philippines and the countries of the European Union,” he said.
Francis also said it is the importance to bring the latest technologies and best practices from the EU to the country.
“There are many examples different from one domain, when it comes to efficiency, environmental protection. So it’s always good to benchmark what is being done in other countries in order to bring the best to Davao City,” he said.
Arturo M. Milan, DCCCII president, agreed that manufacturing sector in Mindanao is still weak, but there is also a need to provide strategic decisions on what types of industries should enter the city.
“We need to really bring in industries but we have to be more strategic,” Milan said.
Among the needs, according to Milan, is the need to process raw materials from the agricultural sector because “we have many of agricultural produce here but we lack machineries to manufacture our produce into finished products.”
Milan also said his group also wants manufacturing companies that are environment-friendly.
“We don’t want to bring in any kind of manufacturing that could destroy our environment. We are trying to balance investments and environmental protection,” he said.x
