Region 12 DTI, DOT offices confident of luring investors to Central Mindanao

KORONADAL CITY -- Trade and tourism officials in Region 12 are confident they can achieve their investment generation targets in a joint fair from April 11 to 14 in Makati City.The four-day investment mission at the Glorietta Mall is a joint initiative of the offices of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the Department of Tourism (DOT) in Region 12.The event, dubbed Treasures of S.O.X Travel and Trade Expo, shall be capped off with what organizers describe as investment mission cum investment matching,” meant to entice investors in Metro Manila to venture in Region 12 in Southern Mindanao.The geographical tag S.O.X. refers to all component areas of Region 12, the cities of Cotabato, Gen. Santos, Koronadal and Tacurong and the provinces of South Cotabato, North Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat and Sarangani.Nelly Dillera, director of DOT for Region 12, said their trade and tourism fair in Makati City shall have a network reception session (NRS), where the investment and tourism potentials of the S.O.X. cities and provinces are to be presented to participants. The NRS aims to educate investors on the viability of pouring in capital inputs for profitable projects and in establishing entrepreneurial linkages with partners based in Region 12.The regional director of DTI in the region, Ibrahim Guimadel, said big ticket projects” shall also be offered to potential capitalists expected to come to the fair at the Glorietta Mall.He said DTI personnel will also extend one-on-one investment matching among investors, local traders and entrepreneurs to build marketing linkages.Dillera said their fair in Makati City will not just generate investment, but spur more livelihood opportunities and employment for people in Region 12 as well.