Saturday, August 02, 2008 [ sunstar.com.ph ]
VALENCIA, Negros Oriental -- The European Chamber of Commerce (ECC) in the Philippines is planning to build a retirement facility in Valencia for foreign retirees.
This will be an added feather on the cap of this town dubbed as the Little Baguio in the Philippines.
Both local and foreign businessmen are now expanding their business outside Metro Manila and going into the outskirts of the provinces.
Alfonso Alba, assistant manager and business development officer of the ECC, said they find Valencia to be an ideal site for a retirement area not only for Europeans but also Japanese, Koreans, Americans, among others.
Alba, together with two German consultants Manfred Klein and Marc Daubenbuechel, recently met with Valencia Mayor Rodolfo Gonzalez Jr. and other local officials for initial talks on the business venture, said Des Tilos Jr., information officer of Valencia town.
Tilos told Sun.Star that Governor Emilio Macias II, Edward Du of the Negros Oriental Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Nocci), and Provincial Engineer Susano Ruperto attended the meeting with the European businessmen.
Tilos said the ECC officials admired the Municipal Government's programs especially the local government's efforts to prime itself for big investment ventures.
Alba said Valencia has a big potential for retirement area development in view of its proximity to educational institutions, medical facilities and commercial center.
For his part, Mayor Gonzalez said he welcomes the investment opportunities, as this is one of his administration's goals for Valencia.
As of now, a Norwegian company that fabricates underwater spare parts is setting up a plant in Valencia and it will reportedly employ hundreds of wielders, added Tilos. (VLC/EBS)
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