Investment Board highlights accomplishments

THE ZAMBOANGA City Investment Promotions Services (ZCIPS) presented its major accomplishments, highlighting the achievements of the Climaco administration the past year.

In a recent meeting, the ZCIPS, which is under the Office of the City Mayor, cited the accomplishment of the administration and among them was the inclusion of Zamboanga City as a finalist in the prestigious “Most Business–Friendly LGU Awards” for five consecutive years (2017-2021). 

It said for the first time in 2021, two esteemed business groups - the Zamboanga Chamber of Commerce and Industry Foundation under Pedro Rufo Soliven and the SOPHIL Fishing Association under Jaydrick Yap - nominated Zamboanga anew. 

Last year, the ZCIPS also organized five webinar series on “Winning against Covid” for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises. These included the Business Continuity Seminar with the Philippine Disaster Resilience Foundation; Bookkeeping with Baker’s Field Enterprises Founder Ester Perez; How to Use Debt to Grow Your Business with Business Consultant Choo Natividad; Mental Health Wellness with Western Mindanao State University; and Alternative Livelihood Programs with the Department of Labor and Employment and Technical Educational and Skills Development Authority. 

ZCIPS said it forged new business relationships with investors and among them were the Philippine Franchise Association for the “Franchising in the Time of the Pandemic” webinar and another partnership with the Contact Center Association of the Philippines for a webinar on “Zamboanga Business Opportunities” and this was made possible through the Zamboanga Information Communications Technology President Michael Lim. 

ZCIPS also discussed upcoming events for this year. It will also organize a quarterly mental health check for MSMEs, Business Continuity Plan Training, Green and Science-Based Investments, and Business One-Stop-Shop 2023, among others. 

Vice Mayor Rommel Agan presided over the Investment Board Meeting wherein a Resolution was passed to fast-track the construction of the BOSS Building. 

The Investment Incentive Board is composed of both public and private organizations with the mayor as the chairperson and vice mayor as the vice chairperson. The private organizations include the presidents or duly elected representative of the Zamboanga Chamber of Commerce and Industry Foundation Inc., Filipino-Chinese Chamber of Commerce, Highly Urbanized and Agri-Fishery Council, Industrial Group of Zamboanga, Sophil Fishing Association, Hotels and Restaurants Association of Zamboanga City and the Zamboanga City Bankers and Financiers Association.

The public organizations, on the other hand, come from the national government agencies (NGAs) and offices from the local governments. 

The NGAs include the Department of Trade and Industry, National Economic and Development Authority, and the Department of Labor and Employment. The offices from the LGU include the Sangguniang Panlungsod Chairman of the Committee of Trade and Industry, City Treasurer, City Engineer, City Planning and Development Coordinator, and Business Permits and Licensing Officer. The Investment Promotion Services serve as the Secretariat. (Zamboanga Post)