MAYOR GORDON AT INTERNATIONAL CONFAB IN BATAM, INDONESIA

Mayor James “Bong” Gordon, Jr. led the Olongapo delegation at the Asia Pacific Conference on Local Economic Development and Investment Strategies in Batam, Indonesia on June 24, 2010.

At the recently concluded conference organized by the United Cities and Local Governments Asia Pacific (UCLG ASPAC), Mayor Bong Gordon took up and expounded on the topic assigned to him which is “free trade zone”, one of the two subjects discussed at the conference.

In his presentation entitled ‘’Subic Bay Freeport Zone; its Benefits to Olongapo City’’, Mayor Gordon with a detailed overview of the Subic Bay Freeport and the major business incentives and benefits it has brought to Olongapo City and the neighboring cities and municipalities in Central Luzon.

“I am confident that the Asia Pacific Conference on Local Economic Development and Investment Strategies will bring tremendous changes in business and tourism in Olongapo City and neighboring towns along the Freeport,” said Mayor Gordon.

Also present at the UCLG ASPAC conference were other Asia Pacific mayors, city officials and municipal council members. Over three hundred (300) delegates attended the conference held at the Pacific Palace Hotel, Batam, Indonesia. Mayor Bong Gordon was accompanied by Olongapo City First Lady Anne Gordon at the conference.

The Asia Pacific Conference on Local Economic Development and Investment Strategies was organized by the Provincial Council of Riau Island (DPRD KEPRI) in cooperation with the Association of Indonesian Municipal Councils (ADEKSI).

The Conference highlighted two selected topics, Free Trade Zone and Tourism, which is aiming at enlightening the Local Government representatives on how the local governments in the region could take advantage of the implementation of a Free Trade Zone and how the Local Governments could enhance their tourism capacity and potency to attract domestic and foreign investment.

Mayor Bong Gordon answers questions at the Asia Pacific Conference on Local Economic Development and Investment Strategies at Batam, Indonesia on June 24, 2010.