(Unpublished, 2016) PROMISING OPPORTUNITIES CONFIRMED WITH ZAMBOANGA CITY’S DEVELOPMENT

 Note: This is an article written in 2016 but could not be published as client changed suppliers.

Among the ten richest cities in the Philippines listed in a report by the Commission of Audit, revealed last November 19, 2015, Zamboanga City had been published as the Top 5 - the top 1 being Makati City, followed by the cities of Quezon, Pasig, and Manila. This is in spite of the violence that occurred in September 2013, which many know today as the Zamboanga Siege.

Despite the violence, it is according to Hon. Christopher  Lawrence Arnuco, Chairman and Administrator of the Zamboanga City Economic Zone (Zambo Ecozone), that trade and other types of business were not delayed despite the disorder.

“We were able to make millions despite the siege. It helped a lot since there were a lot of evacuees”. He adds that the millions “were put to good use” as it also helped pay for the needed legal necessities of the businesses that were shut down during the events.

In that same year, 8, 394 business establishments were registered. At 2015, establishments grew to a number of 10, 348, a 21 percent increase.  This was disclosed during Mayor Maria Isabelle “Beng” Climaco-Salazar’s state of the city address held last January 12, 2016.

In the 12th China- ASEAN Expo (CAEXPO) held in Nanning, China held last November 2015, 80 delegates from the city showcased local businesses to 10 different ASEAN countries. With the city’s linkage with Zambo Ecozone, the event had acknowledged the city as the Best in Investment Promotions.

Many investors have already shown interest in the city’s business potential. Brands like Cotton On have already opened their doors in the most recently opened KCC Mall de Zamboanga, to which many of the citizens have known as a brand only provided in the country’s Metros.

Business establishments like Clipper and Adobo Connection have also opened their first branches in the city.

Even the big players, such as Robinsons and SM Prime, have made their intentions known in expanding their business in Zamboanga.

In an article from The Philippine Star, SM Prime President Henry Sy has expressed that they are indeed eyeing on the city as he mentions that they own 2.5 hectares of property. Sun Star Zamboanga has also revealed that Robinsons officials are in serious talks of acquiring a 7.5 hectare property.

As the urgency to deliver to new audiences become more tangible, the need for more efficient means of ensuring resources becomes a priority; the digital age provides establishments with many of these options.

Mainly, the Smart Tracker, which allows business owners to stay updated with their resources without having to leave the office. Similar with how individuals stay updated with the latest trends through social networking sites, the Smart Tracker allows businesses to track and ensure themselves, their partners and clients that their resources are properly managed and safe; all in real-time.

This system ensures fast, safe, and better-monitoring procedures of delivery especially around far-off locations or provincial branches.

Compared to cities like Makati, Cebu, and Davao, Zamboanga City provides investors with rising opportunities and development as it shows promising growth in the business sector. The city also provides a wide array of audiences as it also caters to people from Ipil, Pagadian city, and many more provinces in the Archipelago, as well as residents of the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).