Business-tourism
destinations

Published by the Visayan Daily Star Publications, Inc.

NINFA R. LEONARDIA Editor-in-Chief & President

CARLA P. GOMEZ Editor GUILLERMO TEJIDA III Desk Editor NANETTE L. GUADALQUIVER Busines Editor CEDELF P. TUPAS Sports Editor RENE GENOVE Bureau Chief, Dumaguete MAJA P. DELY Advertising Coordinator

CARLOS ANTONIO L. LEONARDIA Administrative Officer

The launching of three big events in Oriental Negros next month will probably draw crowds from all over the country and identify Negros Island as one of the destinations for business tourism.

Preparations are underway for the 5th National Bamboo Conference, Second Negros Island Organic Farmers Festival, and the Cuerdas sa Panaghiusa, or Strings of Unity, that are aimed to promote organic agriculture, bamboo production and culture-based tourism and expected to draw more investors to the province.

The provincial government has earmarked P700,000 for the organic festival and the program is under the Negros Island Sustainable Agriculture and Rural Development with seed money of P15 Million.

The ultimate goal of the organic farmers festival is to make Negros Island a sustainable producer of organically grown foodstuff. The Cuerdas sa Panaghiusa aims to promote international friendship and contribute to world peace through music. The bamboo conference aims to strengthen the local bamboo industry and entice investors to the bamboo craft business.

The conference is expected to draw the Oriental Negros crowds of government leaders, bamboo entrepreneurs, researchers, scientists, students and faculty from various academic communities in the country, as well as potential investors.

We are more than happy to support this endeavor of the provincial government to bring in more investors to the province, in the hope that someday it may become a competitive location for multinational and local companies wishing to expand their operations in the region.*