Investment promotion for Iloilo set

Rex Aguado of PAHK during the meeting with Iloilo officials at the PCG on Apr. 23.

THE Business Development Community of the Philippine Association of Hong Kong (PAHK) is set to hold a roadshow to promote Iloilo as an investment site for business leaders from Hong Kong and China.

Rex Aguado, PAHK president, told Hong Kong News the group will be holding a tour in Iloilo for 50 potential investors from Hong Kong, Hainan, Shenzhen, Guangzhou, Chengdu, and Fujian on May 18-21.

“This is the first major project of the group, we call this the business bridge project, and we plan to do this to other cities like Davao, Cebu in the future,” Aguado said at the sidelines of a meeting with Iloilo government officials held at the Philippine Consulate General on Apr. 23.

He said Iloilo would be the first destination because the city and its officials are ready to meet with potential investors. The group and Iloilo officials, led by Mayor Jed Mabilog and Board Member Renee Valencia, first met with potential investors from Hong Kong at the Foreign Correspondents’ Club on Apr. 21.

“We had 40 seats, we had overbooking,. Hindi na namin ma-accommodate iyong iba, 40 lang talaga ang limit,” Aguado said.

During the FCC forum, the investors aired concerns about transportation, internet speed, technology, and human resources.

“All these concerns positive ang response dito ng Iloilo government officials. Iloilo is very peaceful, we have very low crime rate and it is named as the most livable city in the Philippines and we have 27 universities producing 25,000 graduates every year in different fields,” Aguado said.

Those wishing to join the trip, however, will have to pay for the costs of their flight and accommodation, he added.