Cebu to become ‘Innovation Island’

FOLLOWING its exclusion from Tholons’ top 10 global outsourcing list this year, Cebu envisions to bounce back and become the country’s “innovation island” in the digital space.

“We are serious in pursuing programs on startup community development… We want to have a stronger community, and the vision is to make Cebu an innovation island,” said Department of Trade and Industy (DTI) Cebu Director Maria Elena Arbon.

As one venue to meet the local digital and business community, from startups and innovators, as well as the traditional micro, small and medium (MSME) enterprises, DTI stages SlingShotPH Cebu 2017 on Aug. 8 and 9 at the Marco Polo Plaza Cebu.

With 300 expected participants, SlingShotPH will serve as a venue where digital and innovation players in Cebu, together with local traditional business owners, can meet, learn and exchange ideas, and be updated on recent technological changes as well as seek funding support from investors who are ready to embrace innovative ideas.

This is the DTI Cebu’s second staging of SlingShotPH in Cebu in coordination with the DTI Trade and Investment Promotion Group and the Asean Committee on Business and Investment Promotion.

This year’s agenda is in line with the Asean Strategic Action Plan that includes preparing brick and mortar enterprises for transformation in the digital era as well as linking startups with investors. The first staging was in 2016.