Davao City is seeking to turn a series of diplomatic engagements with three foreign ambassadors into actual investments, business partnerships, and job opportunities as international interest in the city continues to grow.
Christian Cambaya, head of the Investor Assistance Servicing Unit of the Davao City Investment Promotion Center (DCIPC), said the visits of the ambassadors of Italy, the United States, and New Zealand to Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte within a span of one week reflect growing recognition of Davao City’s potential as an investment destination in Mindanao.
Italy’s Ambassador to the Philippines Davide Giglio visited the city on October 20, followed by United States Ambassador Lee Lipton on October 22 and New Zealand Ambassador Dr. Catherine McIntosh on October 26.
“We believe that the international community is taking notice of Davao City and the opportunities we can offer,” Cambaya said in an interview.
He attributed the growing attention to Davao City’s role as Mindanao’s economic center, as well as its efforts to maintain good governance, peace and order, develop infrastructure, and sustain a business-friendly environment.
Cambaya, however, stressed that the city wants to move beyond courtesy calls and ceremonial engagements and secure tangible economic benefits from its growing diplomatic ties.
“During the discussions, we encourage the ambassadors to take more steps, not just like photo ops or just ceremonial courtesy calls, but taking this to the next step and bringing in investors that really would help the economy of Davao and the people of the City of Davao,” he said.
He said the DCIPC is promoting the city’s 10 preferred investment areas, with particular attention to industries where the three countries have established strengths and expertise.
Italy, for instance, could bring investment opportunities in agribusiness and food processing. The United States could contribute to the growth of information technology and business process management (IT-BPM), innovation, and professional services, while New Zealand could support the city’s agriculture, food production, and education sectors.
“All of these things, actually, are aligned with the city’s 10 preferred investment areas. So we inform these ambassadors that if they have investors in these areas, they can actually look at Davao as an investment destination, and then we can provide tax incentives to support them when they come here to Davao,” Cambaya said.
Aside from fiscal incentives, the DCIPC offers direct assistance to prospective foreign investors, including help with securing permits and licenses, arranging business meetings, and identifying potential local business partners.
The office also works with foreign business chambers, including those representing American, Canadian, Japanese, and European Union interests, as well as the Davao City Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCCII), to facilitate business connections.
Cambaya also pointed to the proposed European Union-Philippines trade agreement as a potential opportunity for Davao-based businesses to widen their market reach, particularly for Philippine and Mindanao products seeking access to European markets.
Asked about the city’s competitive advantages over other Philippine destinations, Cambaya identified peace and order as its primary selling point, followed by good governance and the presence of a dedicated investment promotion office.
He said the DCIPC provides investors with a single office focused on investment assistance, giving them direct support instead of having to coordinate with personnel from different local government offices.
The city’s strategic location and infrastructure developments also strengthen its investment prospects. Among these are the Davao Coastal Road, the bypass road, the planned public transport system, and the proposed upgrading of the Davao International Airport (DIA).
Cambaya said Davao City’s access to both coastal and mountain destinations also offers a quality-of-life advantage that could help attract businesses and skilled workers.
Moving forward, the DCIPC will continue its engagement with foreign investors while encouraging local businesses to prepare for opportunities that may arise from stronger international economic ties.
Cambaya urged Davao City entrepreneurs to conduct due diligence and consider the DCIPC and the city government as partners in expanding their businesses and establishing connections with potential foreign investors.
He also said the city government is working to improve the ease of doing business by streamlining business permit applications and enhancing procedures for building permits and zoning clearances.
“So hopefully all of these initiatives ginabuhat ni local government will translate to enhanced process, simplified process so that they can easily get their permits and start their operations, and start earning profit,” Cambaya said.
