Davao-Uijeongbu to sign LOI for sisterhood agreement

Officials of Davao City and Uijeongbu City in Korea are set to sign a Letter of Intent that will pave the way for the establishment of a sisterhood agreement between the two cities.

A 16-person delegation from Uijeongbu City consisting of representatives from the government, business sector and the media are set to arrive in the city at 4PM today in time for the signing of the LOI at the Grand Menseng Hotel on June 17. The delegation is headed by Uijeongbu Mayor Kim Moon won.

“The delegation from Uijeongbu has signified their intention to promote friendship and understanding between the two cities through the signing of an LOI now and a Friendship or sisterhood agreement later on,” councilor Rachel Zozobrado said. Uijeongbu, which is a city in Gyeonggi Province of South Korea, has established sisterhood agreements with Shibata in Japan and in Richmond, Virginia in the United States.

Zozobrado said it is high time that we establish a sisterhood agreement with Uijeongbu considering that there are already existing efforts to promote tourism between the two areas. There are also Korean nationals living in the city at present and who have even established their own businesses here.

Under the terms of the LOI, Zozobrado said, both cities agree to solidify the relationship between Davao and Uijeongbu and work for a common purpose. The agreement provides the conduct of exchange visits between Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte and Uijeongbu Mayor Kim Moon won.

The LOI also provides exchanges between the two cities in the area of tourism, sports, health, economic, trade, cultural and other common interest.

The Uijeongbu delegation also includes businessmen specifically Nong Hyup Bank manager Chang Hyeong Lee, Jeong-Ah Industry CEO Han Ju Kim, Seo-kwang ENC CEO Jong Hyup Lee, Sam II Construction CEO Chan Beom Heo, Architect Hyung Ki Shin and Pyeong An Trans President San Joon Heo.

Davao-Darwin sisterhood to push for teaching of Filipino language

The planned sisterhood between Davao City and Darwin City in Australia will not only focus on the economic aspects but will also explore the possibility of promoting culture between the two cities.

“The Northern Territory government is planning to explore the possibility of teaching the Filipino language as the fourth language for their students,” International Relations committee chair councilor Rachel Zozobrado said. Zozobrado headed the Sister-City Delegation that visited Darwin last month in time for the Arafura Games.

Darwin, Northern Territory’s capital city, has grown tremendously tourism and economic wise. It boasts of a new $1 billion waterfront area that houses hotels and apartment blocks, a wade pool plus a new convention center.

Zozobrado said tourism development is one area that can be jointly developed as part of the planned sisterhood agreement between Davao and Darwin Cities. However, she said, Darwin’s economy is no longer just tourism-based but they also have a new oil processing facility which is expected to further attract fresh investments.

“Northern Territory is a place where you can find lots of Filipinos; in fact, the Filipinos are now the second largest migrant community in the Northern Territory next only to the Greeks,” she said.

She said they are supporting the Northern Territory’s plan to teach the Filipino language to their students considering that the Filipinos make up a large community in the area. This, she said, could be part of the sisterhood agreement between the two cities.

Zozobrado said Northern Territory educational institutions are already teaching foreign languages to their students including Mandarin, Japanese and Bahasa Indonesia. If this plan pushes through, she added, the Filipino language will be the fourth foreign language that will be taught to NT students.

“The sisterhood agreement will not only develop economic ties between the two cities but will also push for cultural ties between the two cities especially with the proposal to teach Filipino in their schools,” she said. If the NT government is considering this possibility then this may be a sign of more economic and cultural exchanges not only between Davao and Darwin but other NT areas as well, she added.

Davao business urged: explore trading ventures in Belgium

Davao City entrepreneurs can take advantage of the various economic opportunities in Belgium particularly when it comes to the exports. While 80% of the trading activities of Belgium are done with the European Countries it however seeks the expansion of its trading opportunities with other countries like the Philippines.

“Belgium is a very rich country but it has very few natural resources making importation a substantial part of their economy,” councilor Rachel Zozobrado said. Belgium is considered by the United States as its top 12 largest export market and if Davao can only get a fraction of this market then our exporters would have a very feasible market.

Zozobrado welcomed the Belgian Business Council Mission to Davao City headed by Ambassador Gregoire Vardakis last May 26.

“Davao has always envisioned an economy that will create jobs and contribute to the long-term prosperity of the city and its residents,” Zozobrado said. She told Ambassador Vardakis and the other delegation members including Belgian Filipino Business Club officials and South-East Asia Puratos president Bernard Popilmont that the city is interested in seeking partnerships and expand commercial opportunities between Davao and Belgium.

Zozobrado said the Belgian Council Mission visited the city to establish contacts with the business community in Davao. The delegation, she said, wanted to explore possible business opportunities in the city.

Belgium imports food products, clothing and accessories and textiles and these are some of the areas that can be explored by Davao’s business sector. Its other imports are chemicals, petroleum, rough diamonds and machinery. There is also a great possibility that Belgium might be interested in the city’s Business Process Outsourcing industry.

Davao business urged: explore trading ventures in Belgium

Davao City entrepreneurs can take advantage of the various economic opportunities in Belgium particularly when it comes to the exports. While 80% of the trading activities of Belgium are done with the European Countries it however seeks the expansion of its trading opportunities with other countries like the Philippines.

“Belgium is a very rich country but it has very few natural resources making importation a substantial part of their economy,” councilor Rachel Zozobrado said. Belgium is considered by the United States as its top 12 largest export market and if Davao can only get a fraction of this market then our exporters would have a very feasible market.

Zozobrado welcomed the Belgian Business Council Mission to Davao City headed by Ambassador Gregoire Vardakis last May 26.

“Davao has always envisioned an economy that will create jobs and contribute to the long-term prosperity of the city and its residents,” Zozobrado said. She told Ambassador Vardakis and the other delegation members including Belgian Filipino Business Club officials and South-East Asia Puratos president Bernard Popilmont that the city is interested in seeking partnerships and expand commercial opportunities between Davao and Belgium.

Zozobrado said the Belgian Council Mission visited the city to establish contacts with the business community in Davao. The delegation, she said, wanted to explore possible business opportunities in the city.

Belgium imports food products, clothing and accessories and textiles and these are some of the areas that can be explored by Davao’s business sector. Its other imports are chemicals, petroleum, rough diamonds and machinery. There is also a great possibility that Belgium might be interested in the city’s Business Process Outsourcing industry.