ZAMBOANGA CITY (Mindanao Examiner / Feb. 20, 2013) – The president of the local business chamber Pocholo Soliven has met with top Israeli business investors and government officials and discussed trade opportunities for Zamboanga City.
Soliven, of the Zamboanga Chamber of Commerce and Industry Foundation, Inc., met with the 14-member Israel business delegation headed by Ran Cohen, president of the Israel Asia Chamber of Commerce, at the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Taguig City.
Cohen was accompanied by Menashe Bar-On, the Israel Ambassador to the Philippines, and Generoso D.G. Calonge, the Philippine Ambassador to Israel, including Doron Hemo, the Israel Trade attaché, among other officials.
PCCI president, lawyer Miguel Varela and Oscar De Venecia, the co-chairman of the PCCI International and Trade Affairs, welcomed the Israeli visitors.
Mario Oreta, the president of Alpha Land Development, also gave a business overview of the Philippines as the rising economic power in Asia with Filipino Honorary Consul to Jerusalem Shimon Weinbaum.
Soliven, a well-respected business leader in Mindanao, underscored the strategic location of Zamboanga City as the “Front Door” to the Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore economic growth corridor. The area will serve as a vital link once the ASEAN integration is realized on 2015.
Members of the Israel business delegation come from diverse sectors and are looking for investment opportunities in Zamboanga City and areas outside Metro Manila, Cebu and Palawan.
Soliven said Zamboanga was the only city which made a pitch to lure Israel investors into putting up trade and commerce, and as an investment hub in Southeast Asia. Israel’s business interests include Homeland Security and Smart House Technology, Water Treatment and Desalination, Seed and Agri Technology, Tourism and Real Estate Development. (Mindanao Examiner)
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