By Perla G. Lena
ILOILO CITY, July 23 (PNA) — Delegates of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meeting held here were impressed with the preparations laid down by Ilonggos as they converge in this city for a two-day workshop on Fostering APEC’s Infrastructure through Long-Term Investment and Capital Market Development.
“We are confident Iloilo’s strategic location as the gateway to the rest of the Visayas region will provide more and sufficient interest to potential investors from APEC members interested in a wide range of investment sectors such as retail, manufacturing, business process outsourcing aqua-processing, tourism, to name a few,” said Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog during Wednesday’s welcome dinner hosted by the city government.
Mabilog said that the event “gives glorious opportunity to showcase the potential and strength of Iloilo City as an investment destination.”
The mayor was happy with the good reviews he heard from delegates as they traveled from the airport going to their billeting places.
“So far we are doing well and we hope to sustain this until October,”
He expressed hopes that delegates will have a “fruitful interaction and discussion” and they could “formulate new economic exchange models that integrate social, economic and environmental imperatives and produce results beneficial for everyone.”
Delegates got to taste Ilonggo’s best culinary delicacies during the welcome dinner.
The cultural show featuring a panorama of Ilonggo arts and culture with the theme “Tracing Roots, Treading Routes” also left the guests in awe as they got to learn of the early beginnings of Iloilo up to the present.
“Iloilo City is a modern, bubbly population center proud of its heritage and culture. Iloilo City is happy and honored to host this APEC meeting,” the mayor said. (PNA)