ERWIN P. NICAVERA
June 17, 2019
THE Metro Bacolod Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MBCCI) is again hosting the annual Negros Business Week positioned to trigger growth and development toward the rural areas especially agriculture and fishery communities in Negros Occidental.
Now on its 11th year, the Negros Business Week themed “Driving Progress in Harmony” will be held at Robinsons Place Bacolod on July 6 to 17.
Frank Carbon, chief executive officer of MBCCI, said this year’s edition will be more of a food exposition as it will gather at least 30 enterprises, mostly food processors, in the province.
Carbon said as they continue to push for collaboration and partnership between the public and private sector for growth and development, there is a need to further urge Provincial Government and national government agencies (NGAs) to bring in investments among rural areas.
“The resources in these areas are abundant yet it lack investments,” he said, adding they want local government units (LGUs) from the very beginning to assist their startups and micro enterprises so the latter can also help create more jobs.
“Progress in harmony because the development will be equitable, not only urban areas. This is what we are trying to do now,” the business leader also said.
Of the participating local producers and processors, mostly are outside Bacolod City, some of them are assisted by their respective LGUs.
MBCCI pointed out that employment generation among these localities is minimal, the opportunities are limited.
Thus, the roadmap it is pushing is for small enterprises, after being helped by the Provincial Government, will be assisted by the Provincial Government, NGAs like the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), and government financial institutions for small business loans.
Also, the business chamber, through the annual business week, is trying to bring small producers in the city where market and big buyers are, the MBCCI said.
Carbon said they are now exposing startups and small enterprises to see how they will reach and eventually saturate the urban market in the province while they continue to develop their products.
Carbon said they want to “connect” small producers to bigger “distributors” like the Ceres Pasalubong, for instance, which can market the products of local food producers.
“Though gross domestic growth reaches seven or eight percent, it cannot be felt by small enterprises. So, this is the way of sharing the progress -- from the top down to the bottom,” he added.
Moreover, the 11th Negros Business Week also showcases the rich culinary culture of Negros Occidental.
Carbon said food is included in the priority budget of the people along with clothing, shelter and education.
In fact, businesses that are flourishing are mostly into food like restaurants, Carbon said.
“Food is also a major tourist drawer. Food when match with nature tourism, it’s perfect,” he said, adding that food is one of the strengths of the province.
Governor-elect Eugenio Jose Lacson is expected to grace the opening rites along with the officials of MBCCI and agencies like the DOST and DTI in the province.
