THIRTY-two delegates from Hawaii visited Saturday morning, February 18, at the City Hall to express their interest in developing stronger bilateral ties as sister city of Davao, and for potential partnership and investments that would further expand the economic landscape of the city.
Davao City Administrator Zuleika Lopez, who was one of the officials who welcomed the delegates from the County of Kauai and the member of the Filipino Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii for their 26th Trade Mission, said that the visit is significant in promoting the city and placing it in the map as a promising investment hub.
She said that the recent meeting opens the door to mainstream the city's economic potential and not just in the Association of Southeast Asian Nation (Asean) region.
"At least now we are reaching out to the North American countries as well. It's good for investment and it's also good for tourism and it's also good exposure for Davao City," she said.
This is also seen to generate advantage on the part of the city in boosting economic activities with the investors from Hawaii in terms of agriculture and tourism.
"There are a lot of advantages for us as well but most importantly, the linkages that [are] being formed because there's a lot of Filipinos and Dabawenyos in Hawaii," she said.
The city was also invited to showcase its local products during the Honolulu Festival on March 10 to 12, which Lopez said will be a great opportunity to take centerstage the pride of Dabawenyos abroad.
"I inquired if there are Filipino products that are displayed and then they mentioned that there's a lot of the people from Hawaii who are migrants from Ilocos so they are also showcasing Ilocos products. So we were thinking if we can showcase also Davao products, and they said yes," she said.
She hopes that this could be the start of partnership between the two cities through embracing the exchange of culture.
Kauai Mayor Bernard Carvalho Jr., in an interview, thanked the Dabawenyos for the warm accommodation and hospitality during their stay here. He cited the similarities of Davao and Hawaii in terms of tourism, agriculture, culture and that the city has orchids and many flowers like theirs back home.
"We have coffee, you have coffee so we need to talk about opportunities for agriculture, building young farmers and connecting in inviting of some of your young farmers to come to Hawaii," he said.
He also looks forward that Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio could go to Hawaii and sign the Friendship Certificate to recognize the relationship of the two cities that would sum up the deepening understanding of both governments.