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03 April 2008 - The Philippine Consulate General Shanghai, in cooperation
with Liwayway (China) Co. Ltd., hosted a luncheon-meeting on 27 March to
bring together Tourism Secretary Joseph Ace Durano and top Shanghai-based
businessmen interested in investing in tourism-related investments in the
Philippines.
As part of its efforts to generate business, trade, investment and tourism
in the Philippines, the Consulate has been working closely with the Shanghai
Overseas Chinese Chamber of Commerce (SOCCC), the World Association of
Overseas Chinese Organizations and leading Shanghai companies like the
Jinjiang Group of Companies.
During the luncheon, Mr. Li Nonghe, president of the World Association of
Overseas Chinese Organizations, informed Secretary Durano of his
organization’s plan to hold its bi-annual meeting in the Philippines in 2009
which will bring about 3,000 members from all over the world to Manila. Mr.
Li, also confirmed his plans to lead a mission to visit the Philippines this
year to look at possible business opportunities in construction, mining and
property development.
The Jinjiang Group of Companies led by Mr. Chen Hao, director and CEO, also
informed Secretary Durano that it is looking at investing in a hotel/resort
property in the Philippines. The Jinjiang Group of Companies owns and runs
over 300 hotels in China. Mr. Eddie Wong, another investor based in
Shanghai, stated that the 300-room hotel he has invested in Cebu City will
be ready for occupancy by 2009.
For its part, representatives from the SOCCC, led by one of its directors,
Mr. Lu Guo Fu, stated that after the Business and Investments Forum in
October where President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo encouraged Chinese
businessmen to invest in the Philippines, their members have begun looking
into property/resort development projects in the Philippines. SOCCC is
chaired by Shimao chairman Xu Rong Mao, who recently confirmed the company’s
interest to invest in hotel and resort projects in the Philippines. SOCCC
members have been in the Philippines several times in the past to actively
explore business opportunities. Liwayway (China) Co. Ltd. chairman and
Presidential Special Envoy to China, Carlos Chan, has been instrumental in
bringing the SOCCC to the Philippines.
Consul General Maria Rowena Mendoza Sanchez said that the luncheon meeting
yielded very positive results and that the Consulate will continue to
promote travel, trade and investments to Chinese businessmen especially in
Eastern China.
“I am very happy with the positive and concrete interest of Shanghai
businessmen to invest in the Philippines and look forward to welcoming them
as they locate in the Philippines”, stated Secretary Durano.
Secretary Durano was in Shanghai to attend the World Travel Fair 2008 and
the Signing Ceremony for the Philippine Participation Contract to the
Shanghai World Expo 2010.END |
