COTABATO CITY—The 1st Bangsamoro Business Congress (BBC) successfully concluded on Thursday, Jan. 19, with a message of support from Vice-President Sara Duterte.
During the closing program, Duterte said, “Rest assured our utmost support in the initiative that will lay down the groundwork for socio-economic advancements such as the construction of the Cotabato Agri-industrial Complex and the Development of the Polloc Free and Port ecozone locators.”
Duterte also congratulated the BARMM for the successful conduct of 1st BBC and mentioned that the region’s continuing economic growth, improved security, robust social-political landscape, stable institution of governance, and vibrant cultural heritage have enabled the wider path towards greater peace and prosperity in the localities and the whole of Mindanao.
“I am pleased to join all of you in this important gathering where you bring together development partners, business leaders, economists, and technical experts within and outside the BARMM region into a common platform for productive discussions and stronger collaboration among your participating stakeholders,” Duterte said.
The Vice-President also believed that the event could unite Bangsamoro in cultivating a business-friendly environment and building local enterprises that will foster BARMM’s capacity, as an emerging investment hub.
“Together let us pave more avenues for national and local development and stir the direction of our economies towards our people’s improved welfare and better quality of life. Lahat para sa Diyos, sa Bayan at sa Pamilyang Filipino,” she further stressed.
The 3-day event ended with the submission of 12-point resolutions to the Bangsamoro Parliament for policy advocacy and agenda sought to be the key factor in attaining a more robust regional economy in the future.
The 12-point resolutions were presented by the Bangsamoro Business Council Chairperson Atty. Ronald Hallid Torres during the congress and submitted to the Bangsamoro Parliament thru the Deputy Speaker and Member of Parliament Hatimil Hassan.
Deputy Speaker Hassan accepted the resolution and said, “Rest assured that we, in the Bangsamoro Parliament, will support all the resolutions of the Bangsamoro Business Council to help promote the establishment of more businesses in the region.”
During the last day of the Congress, it was agreed that the next 2nd BBC will be held in Marawi City, Lanao del Sur. (Kasan Usop, Jr./BIO)
