OUTSTANDING Ilonggo entrepreneurs who have made a name not only in Iloilo but also in the national and international levels will be honored by the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Iloilo Inc. (CCIII) during the 18th Visayas Area Business, which was slated on July 17-18, 2009 at the Sarabia Manor Hotel in Iloilo City.

Some key 200 business leaders in the Visayas are slated to meet in Iloilo, according to Joeboy Agriam, president of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Iloilo Inc. (PCCIII).

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Agriam said the conference will be hosted by the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI), CCIII, and the Iloilo provincial government.

The eight outstanding Ilonggo businessmen who will receive the Galing Ilonggo Award are two sets of brothers but with separate business enterprises, namely media magnate Rogelio M. Florete Sr. of Bombo Radyo Phils. and younger brother Martcelino M. Florete of F&C Jewelry, Alejandro O. Que of the Iloilo Supermarket chain and his younger brother Johnny O. Que of Waffle Time food deli, ICVB president Edgar Sia of Mang Inasal food chain, Rodolfo Tiu of Imperial Appliance Corp., Angel de Leon of Taytay sa Kauswagan microlending organization, and Iloilo City Economic Development Foundation chair Alfonso Uy of La Filipina Uy Gongco Corp.

Agriam said the business conference will focus on the theme "One Visayas: Regional Economic Development the Key to Progress." It aims to generate investment and tourism opportunities in Iloilo and the rest of the Visayas area.

The conference will become a venue for sharing experiences, best practices, and innovations in the Visayas business community that will help address the latest business and global issues and challenges.

The delegates will be led by PCCI President Edgardo Lacson and PCCI Chairman Emeritus Donald Dee who will keynote the two-day conference to be graced by Canadian Ambassador to the Philippines Robert Dejardins.

Other speakers are Uwe Struman of the German Technical Cooperation (GTZ), PCCI Vice Chairman Samie Lim, Presidential Assistant for Western Visayas Raul Banias, Prof. Ma. Lourdes Sereno of the Asian Institute of Management Policy Center, and Pagcor chairman and CEO Efrain Genuino. (LCP)