Vicente T. Lao - MinBC Chairman

A warm welcome from the Mindanao Business Council, the primary voice of the business community in Mindanao.

While today's globally integrated economy offers extraordinary new opportunities for growth and success, it is faster paced, more competitive and therefore complex than at any time in our history.

The Council is cognizant of the importance of meeting and exceeding the business community's expectations for comprehensive services and support aimed at developing Mindanao's stance. Every plan we make, every action we implement is keenly focused on our mission and goals.

Our key objective is to foster and promote trade and business relationships and to act as advocate for our members. From a strategic perspective, MinBC seeks to achieve its mission by providing our members an avenue to help further develop trade ties and articulate their interests through the conduct of institutional events and region- wide consultations on underlying issues and matters causing great impact on the island’s general business climate.

The conferment of BEBC’s (BIMP- EAGA Business Council) chairmanship to the Council in 2006 made it more aggressive in looking into the potential areas of sub-regional cooperation which need to be further explored. Now as an active member of the subgerional cooperation, MinBC takes a deeper commitment in going beyond borders and even more fortifying Mindanao’s link to the rest of the members of the BIMP- EAGA.

The ongoing economic, cultural and social development of Mindanao offers a wide range of business opportunities for businesses. Through the Council's active collaboration with the government and civil society, businesses can gain information and build relationships that will assist in capitalizing on these opportunities.

As the decade comes to a close, economies in the world face a turbulent future on a number of fronts. In the wake of the financial meltdown and ensuing global economic crisis, the inherent challenge in economic recovery is the interconnectivity and deepened commitment of industries' forefronts and key players.

As an indispensable partner and stakeholder in the process, it falls to the private sector to respond with determination and creativity. Beyond government initiatives, it will be the businesses operating in the region that will continue to spur economic growth and prosperity.

Now is the time to truly make a difference.