To provide direct access on potential business partnerships with Philippine cities, LCP hosted a dinner event for the Italian Trade and Investment Mission to the Philippines last November 22, 2012 in Makati City. The 28-member high profile delegation was led by Confindustria, Italy’s biggest association of manufacturing and services companies. The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) facilitated the mission.
In his welcoming remarks, LCP National Treasurer and Dagupan City Mayor Benjamin Lim said LCP is pleased because of all local government leagues, the Italian business delegates chose to meet LCP and its member-cities, ‘We look forward to successful networking and exchange of ideas on how our organizations can be catalysts for strengthened partnerships in our two countries. ’ He added that Philippine cities are pioneering in terms of governance innovation like streamlining business registration that enables local competitiveness and accelerates economic development.
During the program, cities represented either by their mayor or their representative introduced their respective local government and its current investment opportunities. Like Mayor Evelyn Uy who introduced Dipolog City as the Bottled Sardines Capital and Mayor Del De Guzman who introduced Marikina City as the Philippines’ Shoe Capital eliciting inquiries from the delegates during the side sessions.
DTI Undersecretary Cristino Panlilio said LCP, representing cities, should maximize the opportunity whenever trade missions arrive to the Philippines, "We are experiencing a record breaking number of inbound missions wanting to see up close and personal what the country is all about now. I believe we are in the radar of every significant country in world today.”