Philippines
'Investors summit to spotlight QC as top business destination' -- Mayor Joy
'Investors summit to spotlight QC as top business destination' -- Mayor Joy
Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte on Monday, Oct. 3, said that the business investors summit that the local government will host on Oct. 7 will promote the city as a top business destination for local and international investors.
"We hope to attract many investors who can help further stimulate the economy and provide employment for QCitizens,” Belmonte said.
According to the city government, the “Quezon City Investors Summit: Future Ready” which will be held at the the Novotel Manila, Araneta City in Quezon City, will provide a venue for city officials to engage with investors, business leaders, business associations, chambers of commerce, foreign dignitaries, to discuss key areas for investments, public-private partnerships, and opportunities for expansion and growth.
Business Permits and Licensing Department (BPLD) Head Margarita Santos had earlier shared that the event aims to build investor confidence in Quezon City; generate investments and public-private partnerships; and make Quezon City the top-of-mind preferred investment destination.
“Quezon City is future ready, ready for investors, ready to build a better and more prosperous city so that our QCitizens will be able to enjoy the resulting benefits,” Santos said.
The city government said that it constantly consults and coordinates with the business sector to build a relationship based on mutual respect and support.
“This continued dialogue with the private sector helps all stakeholders to address various challenges and issues and to think up ways to create a free, fair, and fertile business environment,” Local Economic Investment Promotions Office head Perry Dominguez said.
Meanwhile, the BLPD head also stated that the city government has already automated and digitized 95 percent of its services through the QC E-Services platform which will enable potential investors to easily apply for business permits and licenses online.
The city government said that it is known as an ardent supporter of micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs). It provided MSME owners with incentives from tax breaks, tax payment, extensions to changing the validity of business permits and licenses to help the businesses especially during the Covid-19 pandemic.
It added that it has also increased its social services budget over the past three years, which enabled it to provide livelihood opportunities and create more jobs, support education, provide permanent housing, better healthcare and social safety nets, and other services.
It also said that it will soon launch the “Start-Up QC” program that aims to strengthen and develop the city’s start-up business ecosystem.
“This program is calibrated to provide financial gains to innovative, creative, and promising business models that can help provide solutions and recommendations to social issues and challenges,” Investment Affairs Office Head Jay Gatmaitan shared.