Bohol tourism, agri-trade Gets boost at ASEAN-BIS

TOURISM and business prospects for Bohol in the Central Philippines run high as the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Business and Investment Summit (ASEAN BIS) tackles measures to accelerate regional economic integration at the 4th ASEAN Summit in Cebu starting Wednesday, December 6. In the regional development plans for the country, Central Philippines has been identified as the growth hub for tourism and is connected across the country by a key digital connection that complements the trade development in regional super-regions plan.

ASEAN-BIS provides the suiting venue for discussions and sharing of insights among leaders of the regions' key business sector and their representatives in the singular task of developing the ASEAN economic community as well as enhancing business competitiveness in the regional and global markets. The ASEAN BIS opened at the Waterfront Hotel in Lahug and nearby hotels as Marriott, Marco Polo and Parklane December 6 and runs until December 10.

In the ASEAN BIS agenda are sectoral priorities in economic integration inclusive of tourism, agro-based products, air travel and air transport, fisheries, health care, wood based products, textiles and apparel, e-Asean, electronics hardware and rubber based products. Of the 11 sectoral priorities set for the ASEAN BIS, Bohol concerns rate high with tourism, agriculture and wood based products, critical air transport and travel, fisheries and health care. With the regional business investment summit, local businessmen here are optimistic trickle effects would be lapping on the local economy in the next few years.

Early this week, Bohol Chamber of Commerce and Industry chairman Joseph Norris Oculam has identified along with dollar remittances from overseas foreign workers, agriculture, trade and tourism as top four of Bohol 's economic propellers. As this developed, private sector here are in a frenzy of putting up investments to aid the government in laying the foundations for the province to come out strong and competitive in the emerging regional trade shifts.

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