Fil-Hawaiian biz group on trade mission to Laoag, Vigan

2014 portrait of Governor David Ige by Dallas Nagata White. (Photo By Dallas Nagata White – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0)

LAOAG CITY—Members of the Hawaiian-Filipino Chamber of Commerce and Industry will  arrive Tuesday evening at the Laoag International Airport for a trade mission here.

Composed of about 45 delegates led by Hawaii Governor David Ige, the trade mission to Laoag and neighboring city of Vigan in Ilocos Sur aims to explore various opportunities to promote business and investment.

Ilocos Norte Governor Ma. Imelda Marcos is expected to meet the group at the Laoag airport upon their arrival around 8:15 pm Tuesday.

In an earlier interview, Vice Governor Angelo Marcos Barba, who visited Hawaii last September, said the Hawaii governor intends to visit the different sources of renewable energy in Ilocos Norte such as the wind power farms in Burgos, Bangui and Pagudpud, the solar power plant in Currimao and the mini-hydro power plant in Pancian, Pagudpud.

According to Barba, Governor Ige is particularly interested on the dynamics of establishing renewable energy projects through a public and private partnership agreement.

Aside from renewable energy sources, the Hawaii business group would also want to discuss possible partnerships with local business groups in terms of promoting sustainable agriculture, job creation and culture preservation.

During the visit, a memorandum of agreement is expected to be signed by both parties to strengthen friendly and bilateral relations between the Ilocos Norte government and State of Hawaii.

In 2002, a sisterhood agreement was signed between then Governor and former senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and former Hawaii Governor Linda Lingle for the exchange of best practices and strengthened cooperation in the fields of education, tourism, agriculture, arts and culture, among others.