THE DAVAO city government is planning to forge a sisterhood agreement with another city in China to further expand trade and cultural ties. The Davao City International Relations Board, in a statement Tuesday, said it is preparing the proposal for a deal with Qinhuangdao City to be submitted to the city council for approval. The city already has an agreement with Nanning City, while the sisterhood with Jinjiang City is already being processed. The board is part of the local government’s promotional system, together with the Davao City Investment Promotion Center (DCIPC). Lemuel G. Ortonio, DCIPC head, said the sisterhood agreements would strengthen links in “tourism and culture, trade and commerce, and education and technology.” City Planning and Development Office head Ivan C. Cortez, for his part, said these agreements would attract investments and trade, as well as encourage airlines to consider direct flights to and from Davao. “We need to explore the possibilities for us to be able to cash in on the interests that the Chinese investors have on us,” Mr. Cortez said. Early this month, Chinese Consul General Li Lin, who will be posted at the soon-to-be opened consulate in the city, said China is looking at the possible areas of cooperation between its investors and those in the city. Arturo M. Milan, president of the Davao City Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Inc., told BusinessWorld that the Chinese are planning a trade mission to the city to assess possible joint venture projects in agriculture, manufacturing, and tourism, among other areas. “We just need to prepare our local investors, particularly the micro, small and medium enterprises so that they will able to take advantage of the interest of these Chinese traders,” Mr. Milan said. — Carmelito Q. Francisco

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