Showcasing El Nido’s products and services to investors participating in the Brunei Darussalam-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA) business forum and matching will open new livelihood opportunities for the locals, a local entrepreneur said.
Atty. Philip Ray Nangkil, chairman of the Palawan Economic Development Council (PEDCO) in El Nido, said Thursday that the forum and business matching will give domestic and international investors an idea on what their town could offer.
“For the locals of El Nido, they have the chance to showcase ‘yong kanilang mga local products and services. Earlier, the tourism office of El Nido presented the products and services na puwede nila i-offer sa iba-ibang delegates, international and local, coming from Palawan and other provinces in the Philippines,” he said.
Showcased were handicraft products made by El Nido residents and artists, cashew food products, and tour packages.
An estimated 250 participants, including members of the BIMP-EAGA Business Council (BEBC) in Palawan, attended the event that will end on August 17.
Nangkil said through the business matching, El Nido entrepreneurs can talk to investors and open business possibilities and partnerships.
In 2018, PEDCO held the first forum and business matching in southern Palawan in Brooke’s Point before bringing it this year to the northern part.
In 2020, it will be conducted again in southern Palawan in Bataraza.
Nangkil said that public-private transactions become more visible and signify that the business sector have more leeway now to coordinate with the public.
“Makikita naman natin at maramdaman na ang government ay really trying to help the private sectors at nagkakaroon tayo ng partnership. Meron na nga tayong public-private agreement and transactions, hindi na magkakaroon ng limitations ‘yong mga ganitong activity because of the public sector,” he said.
