BIZ FORUM IN AUSTRALIA. Negros Occidental Gov. Alfredo Marañon Jr. (right) and other officials from the province with Chief Minister of Northern Territory Michael Gunner (2nd from right) during the Regional Australia-Asia Chambers Forum held in Darwin City, Northern Territory, Australia on May 2 to 4. (Contributed photo)
BACOLOD CITY -- Negros Occidental was showcased as a potential tourism and investment destination in the just-concluded Regional Australia-Asia Chambers Forum held in Darwin City, Northern Territory, Australia.
Gov. Alfredo Marañon Jr., who led the province’s delegation during the event held on May 2 and 3, in a statement over the weekend emphasized that “one of the province’s key exports is our highly trainable skilled labor”.
During the session on “Financial and Asian Regional Development”, the governor discussed the attractiveness of Negros Occidental as a tourism and investment site and the successful engagement of Negros Occidental with the Northern Territory Government.
Provincial Supervising Tourism Operations Officer Cristine Mansinares, who was part of the delegation, said Negros Occidental’s scope of potential partnership is diverse and ranges from employment and migration to education, agriculture, trade and investment.
“Through this event, we can also expand our partnership in other areas, including tourism, and sustain what we currently have such as trade and investment, education, agriculture, and employment and migration,” she added.
The forum, hosted by the Chamber of Commerce Northern Territory, gathered senior representatives from Chambers of Commerce within Australia and across the Asian Region including the Philippines, Cambodia, China, Guam, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, Timor Leste, and Vietnam.
The Northern Territory also hosted the Arafura Games 2019 on April 26 to May 4.
The inclusive multi-sport event fostering friendship and understanding between the competing nations and the host-province was participated in by 40 countries, with the Philippines among those winning the most number of medals. (PNA)
