SMX Convention Center, Lanang, Davao City
July 21, 2017
President Rodrigo Roa Duterte spoke before the participants of the Davao Investment Conference 2017 at the SMX Convention Center in Lanang, Davao City.
The conference was organized by the Davao City Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Inc. (DCCCII) together with the local government unit of Davao City and private sectors.
With this year’s theme, ‘Davao: The Gateway to A World of Infinite Investments’, the fourth investment conference tackled Davao and Mindanao’s great potential for investments in the areas of infrastructure, tourism, agriculture, and manufacturing.
In the keynote address of Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio, she emphasized Davao’s potential for investments despite the state of Martial Law in Mindanao. “Despite security issues that pose a challenge to the city’s growth, this year’s Icon is the best chance for Davao to showcase not only its various investment opportunities, but to prove that the city is conducive to investment, now more than ever, with the heightened security forces and increased police visibility across the city and other peace and order programs in place to ensure that businesses are safe and secure,” she said.
For his part, President Duterte assured the business sector that despite the Martial Law implementation in Mindanao, it is business as usual, and he gave them a few updates of the situation in the war-torn city of Marawi. “So I think I’d like to now address myself to the businessmen and the stakeholders here, wherever your endeavor you are in. Fundamentally it’s peaceful. The fight in Marawi would soon be over. I… the one thing that’s stopping us now is ‘yung sa mosque, it’s a big one, it has underground tunnels but not so much about that. But may 300 na hostages sila. At sabi ko, we’ll just have to wait it out. Sabi ko sa kanila, do not attack,” the President said.
Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Ramon Lopez, Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Arthur Tugade, DCCCII Chairman Mr. Antonio Dela Cruz, DCCCII President Capt. Ronald Go, and Davao Investment Conference 2017 Chairman Mr. Arturo Milan were also present in the event.
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