Czech delegations visited this city on Friday to explore potential partnerships with key businesses in infrastructure, transportation, energy, and smart city initiatives.

Cebuano counterparts highlighted during the Business and Investment Forum 2024 the historical island’s bullish economic outlook, underscoring the ongoing container port, renewable energy, and multi-modal terminal projects.

Governor Gwendolyn Garcia briefed Czech delegates, led by Chamber of Deputies of the Parliament of the Czech Republic president Marketa Pekarova Adamova, about the historical and economic landscape of the province.

In her speech, Garcia emphasized the Spanish investments in the northern tip of the province a 150-megawatt renewable energy project in Daanbantayan, north of Cebu Cebu, that costs around USD130 million.

She added that the province is also undertaking big infrastructure projects aimed at easing the traffic in the metro.

“The Metro Cebu Expressway hopefully, too, what was once a national government big-ticket project but would have cost the national government additional loan, this time the national government has agreed that this particular project be delisted from the projects… and given to Cebu,” she said.

The forum also tackled the 25-hectare Cebu South Harbor and Container Terminal in Talisay City that would house the country’s biggest gantry and the 1,525 linear meter quay that would accommodate giant cargo vessels.

The container terminal’s general manager, Michael Martin Teotico, raised the port’s plan to construct a world-class multi-modal terminal that will land and sea transport system, like feeder buses, taxis, and modern jeeps, as well as sea taxis, aimed at decongesting city roads from traffic.

“What we are envisioning is that Cebu will be a transshipment hub… We are envisioning that Cebu become a major gateway outside Metro Manila,” Teotico said.

Adamova, for her part, highlighted her country’s eagerness to partner with the Cebuano business community in key investment areas.

“There is no hesitation. I can say that our bilateral relations are booming,” Adamova said.

The Philippines and Czech Republic on March 15 agreed to deepen their cooperation in various areas such as agriculture, trade and investment.

The commitment was made during President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s meeting with Czech Republic Prime Minister Petr Fiala in Prague. (PNA)