Among the topics at the whole-day conference are Mindanao’s shipping and trade prospects; the region’s role in sustaining Philippine economic growth; government’s logistics strategies for Mindanao; the impact of ASEAN economic integration on the transport sector; and Bureau of Customs (BOC) policies in support of trade facilitation.
Delegates will also get a chance to participate in high-level networking with shipping industry executives, manufacturers, importers and exporters expected to attend the gathering.
Event organizer PortCalls has invited experts to offer their insights into opportunities Mindanao offers to investors, especially in the area of trade and transport.
Heading the list of speakers is Dr. Cayetano Paderanga, Jr., former socio-economic planning secretary, who will discuss Philippine macro-economic prospects for the next three years, as well as his forecast for Mindanao trade.
Leon M. Dacanay, Jr., regional director of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) for Region 10, will speak on growth in Mindanao maritime trade, particularly cargo volumes, direction of trade and how shippers should respond.
The state of preparedness of the Philippine logistics industry as the economies of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations integrate next year will be the focus of Dr. Adora Navarro, a senior research fellow of the Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS), as she discusses the benefits and pitfalls of the regional event.
From the private sector, Augustus Adis, president, PIE-MO Industries Association, will point out the needs of Mindanao shippers and cargo service providers while Jose Manuel de Jesus, president and general manager of Mindanao Container Terminal (MCT), will discuss technological and systems innovations and container throughput at MCT.
Capping the event will be Atty. Agaton Teodoro Uvero, deputy commissioner for the Assessment and Operations Coordinating Group of the BOC, who will speak on customs reforms toward greater trade facilitation. Uvero will brief conference delegates on new BOC measures in place to cut red tape, combat corruption and smuggling.
