PGMA visits Glan with 164 Indons

GLAN, Sarangani (March 18, 2010) - President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo visited Glan anew gracing the arrival of a 164-person delegation from Tahuna, North Sulawesi in Indonesia who were also warmly greeted by the local government unit (LGU) here as they reached the port of Glan Thursday, March 18, for a three-day exploratory visit.

The visit is an offshoot of the request of the Local Government of Tahuna to the Indonesian Consulate made early this year to further strengthen the bilateral initiatives between the Jose Abad Santos Glan Sarangani - Cooperation Triangle (JAGS-CT) and Tahuna Regency which was forged in Glan on November 28, 2006.

The areas of cooperation between JAGS-CT and Tahuna include education and training, socio cultural development, tourism promotion, fisheries, marine resources development, and trade and commerce.

Governor Migs Dominguez and Glan Mayor Enrique Yap both welcomed President Arroyo and the delegation team composed of LGU officials, private sector, academe, civil society group, and media practitioners from Tahuna.

"This is another history of our municipality. This is a start of formalized trading between Glan and Tahuna," Yap said."We look forward to more prosperous relationship," Gov. Dominguez said.

The highlights of the trade mission include a business matching activity, where 30 locals and 20 Indonesians were given opportunity to exchange experiences and share best practices;a business conference to be participated by 50 locals and 100 Indonesians; trade fair; cultural presentation; and bilateral meetings on Customs, Immigration, Quarantine and Security (CIQS), Education, and LGU cooperation by JAGS-CT officials and Indonesian counterparts.

Mayor Yap, during a press conference, told media that one of the agenda of the bilateral meetings would be the procedures and requirements regarding security in trading goods from Glan to Tahuna, and vice versa.

The trade fair, showcased at the JLC (James L. Chiongbian) Municipal Hall, also provided a venue for the Indonesian delegation to display their products.

Among the identified sample products are clove, nutmeg, coconut, pineapple, copra, furniture (miniature from bamboo), and fish products which they brought via LKM Sun Lia, an Indonesian vessel. The trade mission will be concluded on Saturday, March 20. (Sarangani Information Office)