CEZA HOLDS ITS FIRST LEG OF INVESTMENT PROMOTION ROADSHOW SERIES

By: Michelle S. Agabin

Sales and Promotion Supervisor IV

Cagayan Freeport- The Cagayan Economic Zone Authority (CEZA) headed by its Administrator and CEO, Secretary Jaime R. Escaño kicked off its investment promotion roadshow in Gonzaga and Santa Teresita, two municipalities under the 1^st District of Cagayan Province last December 6 and 7 of 2022.

The Investment Roadshow Series will travel to over 26 municipalities and 1 city this year to inform and update the different leaders in the Cagayan Province on CEZA’s investment opportunities, economic outlook, future investment trends and offer collaborative partnerships and assistance with its investment, tourism and infrastructure development projects.

Secretary Jaime R. Escaño highlighted this huge step as an important part of CEZA’s effort to build partnerships in the province and the region as well. “It will help close the gap of development, speed up regional integration and bring about prosperity for all”, said the Secretary.

Mayor Marilyn Pentecostes expressed her deepest gratitude towards this initiative of CEZA through the leadership of Secretary Escaño as according to her, this is the first time for CEZA to conduct this kind of event and courtesy call in their humble municipality.

She stated, “We are happy with CEZA, as they are very much pro-active in terms of development, promotion and supervision of their projects as they bring development even to remote and excluded areas that helps shape a sense of pride and awareness.” The municipal mayor also signified her strong support to the administration and encourage the increase in investments and stimulate economic visits across 1^st District of Cagayan Province.

Also ecstatic in the visit of Secretary Escaño was Mayor Rodrigo de Gracia who shared his thoughts on how CEZA could help in their agricultural needs especially in the direct importation of fertilizers and post-harvest needs/ equipment of the local farmers in his municipality and the Secretary strongly assured him in helping with the necessary arrangements on said importation.

Mayor de Gracia also suggested the One Town-One Product for CEZA to explore and promote as the sole Investment Promotion Agency in the entire region wherein the Secretary strongly agreed as these partnerships would truly contribute and maintain Cagayan Freeport’s status as the Regional Growth Nexxus, a highly competitive economic region, a region of equitable economic development and a region fully integrated into the global economy.

Likewise, Secretary Escaño presented CEZA’s plan to construct a fuel depot as one of the new projects that the agency strongly wishes to undertake, considering that it offers a big potential and numerous gains once operational. This project according to the Secretary is very promising as it will provide the first fuel depot in the Cagayan Valley Region and making this possible will not only provide a significant revenue to CEZA but will also provide a lower fuel cost in Cagayan Valley.

The Investment Promotion Roadshow in Gonzaga and Santa Teresita, Cagayan marked the first of the series of CEZA’s roadshows around the province. And this series is expected to bring in new wave of investors to collaborate with the government in promoting sustainable investment and economic development for the Cagayan Valley Province.