FILINVEST eyes Tacurong for next business venture

                (August 10, 2012) “A branch of East West Bank will be operating in Tacurong soon,” said Erwin Garcia, Chairperson of the Provincial Small and Medium Enterprises Development (PSMED) Council during the 3^rd SULONG Tacurong Investment Forum on August 1, 2012. He is confident to bring the good news after Andrew Gotianun, owner of the Filinvest Development Corporation (FDC) paid the city a visit in July.  Mr. Gotianun is number 17 on Forbes’ list of richest people in the Philippines for 2012.

                “It may be through partnerships and networks that Mr. Gotianun heard about the booming business economy in the city,” Garcia said. East West bank is a subsidiary of FDC.

“This kind of investment asserts the City’s capability in sustaining businesses and enterprises. Rest assured that the city government supports the business sector as this is vital for the city’s sustained progress,” Mayor Lina O. Montilla said during the forum. Strategies have been formulated and employed to make Tacurong a business-friendly city, attracting more investors and generating more employment opportunities for Tacurongnons. Among these are the founding of the Tacurong Investment Assistance Center (TIAC), and the formulation of the Tacurong Local Investment and Incentive Code.

According to Garcia, FILINVEST has already started to engage in transactions with concerned groups and individuals for the establishment of the bank. “Of course, we hope that investors coming in will be willing to comply with all the necessary processes enforced by the city. This way, we are all ensured with quality partnership,” said TIAC Manager David Salazar. (Jezereel Louise C. Billano)