CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY- The European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (ECCP) recently hosted a back-to-back event which further strengthened its eminent track record of fostering economic growth, industry innovation, and international collaboration.
Held August 18 at the Pioneer House function room, the twin events dubbed NorthMin: Elevating Regional Businesses to Global Heights & LinkedUp: ECCP Business Mixer Night, the event was graced by Florian Gottein, Executive Director, ECCP; Jaime Rafael Paguio, Chairman, ECCP Northern Mindanao Business Council; Richardson T. Cua, OIC-Assistant Regional Director, Department of Economy, Planning and Development (DEPDev) Region 10; Mercedes P. Mejia, Managing Director, SLERS Industries Inc.; and Wilma Buray, General Manager, Northern Mindanao Federation of Dairy Cooperatives; and members of the ECCP-Northern Mindanao Chapter.
In his welcome remarks, Dr Ambrosio B. Cultura II, President, USTP-System and ECCP Northern Mindanao Vice-Chairperson, noted how the event sought to continue the ECCP mission by bringing together business leaders, policymakers, and professionals who share a vision of progress for Cagayan de Oro and Northern Mindanao.
“Northern Mindanao has long been recognized for its abundance of resources and talent. Agribusiness remains a strong foundation, feeding not only our people but also contributing significantly to trade and export. Manufacturing continues to evolve, while logistics and connectivity open new doors for efficiency and integration. The energy sector, too, plays a pivotal role in ensuring sustainability and resilience,” Dr Cultura observed.
He further posited that beyond these strengths, Normin business must acknowledge that the global economy has become faster, more interconnected, and more competitive than ever before, thus the imperative need for the region “to reimagine our strategies, embrace innovation, and forge stronger linkages across industries and across borders. Keep pace, and indeed, to take the lead, which is precisely why today’s forum is both timely and relevant.”
Northern Mindanao Economic Outlook
In his following presentation, Richardson T. Cua, OIC-Assistant Regional Director, Department of Economy, Planning and Development (DEPDev) Region 10, emphasized Northern Mindanao’s Strategic Role in National Development as an international gateway, leading agricultural hub, and major industrial, tourism, and trade center in the Philippines due to its strategic location and connectivity (the only region in Mindanao linked with arterial highways to all of Mindanao’s regions), agricultural strengths, and industrial and energy assets.
“Northern Mindanao plays a strategic role in national development. We envision the region to become an international gateway, leading agricultural hub, and major industrial, tourism, and trade center in the Philippines,” ARD Cua noted.
“This role is built on the region’s natural and structural advantages, beginning with its strategic location. Northern Mindanao is connected to all regions in the island via a well-developed road network. Additionally, its deep harbors serve as the ideal jump-off points for sea-based trade with the Visayas and Luzon, as well as international markets.”
“With its vast agricultural lands, rich soil and favorable climate, the region is highly suited for many crops and livestock. Among its top products are pineapple, cattle, banana, coconut, corn, sugarcane, cassava, hogs, chicken and goats.”
The region is also home to the 3,000-hectare PHIVIDEC Industrial Estate, one of the country’s largest industrial estates, underscoring Northern Mindanao’s potential for industrial development. Furthermore, locators benefit from stable electric power generation services, with the region supplying at least 57 percent of Mindanao’s total power capacity.”
Dr Cultura noted that by highlighting emerging economic opportunities, Northern Mindanao is positioned to maximize its strengths to attract investments, create jobs, and build sustainable livelihoods for its people.
“By providing insights on national and global business trends, we equip our industries to stay competitive in an interconnected economy. Understanding these shifts ensures that Northern Mindanao does not merely react to change, but adapts with foresight and agility.”
“Third, by creating a space for collaboration among business leaders, investors, and government, we lay the foundation for collective growth. No single sector can elevate the region alone, progress depends on partnerships and shared commitment.”
He stressed that while the two sessions can provide valuable insights, it was likewise the opportunity to build relationships. The LinkedUp: ECCP Business Mixer Night, provided participants with the chance to continue these conversations in a relaxed setting, since the most transformative partnerships are sometimes born not in boardrooms, but in moments of genuine connection, he added.
Strengthening Global-Local Linkages
In his keynote speech, ECCP Executive Director Florian Gottein concurred, stressing how economic development doesn’t happen in boardrooms in the capital alone. It happens in farms, factories, ports, business parks, and in forums like this in places like Cagayan de Oro, Iligan, Valencia, and the rest of Northern Mindanao.
“In ECCP we believe in the power of partnerships between local businesses and international stakeholders. The term “Glocal” — combining global and local — is no longer a buzzword. It’s a business necessity,” Gottein stressed.
“Whether it’s a Bukidnon farmer trying to access global markets, a Misamis-based logistics hub serving international routes, or a startup in Iligan scaling through European partnerships — the path to inclusive growth lies in our ability to create and sustain these linkages.”
“And this is exactly where ECCP plays a crucial role. Through our advocacy efforts, networking platforms, and regional engagements, we help build bridges between local industries and foreign investors, between national policies and regional aspirations, and between Philippine innovation and European collaboration.”
Two examples of this collaboration were shared in the following sharing dubbed Private Sector Insights: Scaling Regional Businesses for Global Competitiveness by Mercedes P. Mejia, Managing Directors, SLERS Industries who shared her aspiration to be a global leader for a new product, and ECCP Northern Mindanao past president Wilma Buray, General Manager, Northern Mindanao Federation of Dairy Cooperatives, who shared their group’s collaboration with ECCP to open the European Market for their locally manufactured Gouda Cheese.
These was followed by a panel discussion on Collaborating for Regional Growth: Opportunities and Challenges for Investors and Local Businesses moderated by Jaime Rafael U. Paguio, Executive Vice President, Cagayan Power & Light Co. and Chairperson, ECCP Northern Mindanao Business Council in which the speakers shared the issue and challenges they encountered and how ECCP facilitated their linkages with foreign investors, assisted in harmonizing national policies with regional aspirations, and between Philippine innovation and European collaboration.”
ECCP’s Commitment to the Regions
In recent years, ECCP has deepened its regional presence by establishing regional offices in Mindanao, Visayas, and North Luzon, to hosting industry-specific forums, policy dialogues, and capacity-building sessions, firm in its commitment to empowering businesses in Luzon, the Visayas and Mindanao alike.
“Northern Mindanao has massive potential in agribusiness and value-added processing, manufacturing and industrial zones, logistics and inter-island connectivity, and increasingly, green energy and sustainability-driven ventures. While recognizing the region’s strategic location, skilled labor pool, and growing appetite for innovation and expansion, greater connectivity in policy, in investment, and in mindset, is now needed,” Gottein stressed.
The European Business Community: A Willing Partner
European companies continue to view the Philippines as a valuable partner, including the regions. ECCP regularly receives inquiries from companies exploring joint ventures in agriculture, renewable energy, digital solutions, and education.
“Many are no longer asking if they can invest beyond Metro Manila, but where. And the answer can be here — in Northern Mindanao. What we need to do is continue conversations like this, address policy bottlenecks, showcase your regional assets, and provide platforms for local champions to meet with global enablers,” Gottein shared.
A Call to Action
Infrastructure, incentives, and institutional support are vital to attracting and retaining investments. Gottein urged LGUs and regional agencies to create an enabling environment that’s business-friendly, transparent, and forward-looking. In the same vein, he urged the local business community to continue to dream big.
Not the least, to the their members and partners from the European business community: keep your eyes on Northern Mindanao.
“There is no shortage of opportunity here — only the need for more dialogue, collaboration, and commitment,” he exhorted.
In closing, Gottein reiterated how regional development is not separate from national progress — but is the foundation of it. And the link between global aspirations and local realities must be intentionally nurtured, with ECCP connecting ideas, people, and businesses across borders – as the partner in this journey.
Like Dr Cultura put it, “Let us take this opportunity to ask ourselves: How can we elevate our region’s strengths to global heights? The answer lies in collaboration, innovation, and a shared vision for prosperity that is inclusive and sustainable.”
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(Photographs courtesy of PHIVIDEC IA/GFX Art Cards courtesy of DEPDev Region X)
