caraga-clusters.tripod.comIndustry Clusters in the Caraga Region, Philippines

BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES IN CARAGA REGION, PHILIPPINES Home Wood Industry Oil Palm Industry Banana Industry Seaweed Industry High Value Vegetables Industry Tourism Industry Arts and Crafts Industry Abaca Industry Links News Downloads INDUSTRY CLUSTERING: A STRATEGY FOR REGIONAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN CARAGA REGION, PHILIPPINES The Caraga Region is composed of four provinces: Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Surigao del Norte and Surigao del Sur. Considered as the richest region in terms of natural resources, Caraga sits on 3.5 billion metric tons of metallic and non-metallic reserves. Thousands of hectares are planted with timber trees, oil palm, abaca, banana, and other commodity crops. Despite the richness of its natural resources, Caraga ironically, is one of the poorest regions in the Philippines . The poverty rate of the region which is fifty point two percent (50.2%) is actually worse than that of the entire country, which is only thirty-four percent (34%). To spur regional economic development, the Regional Development Council or RDC adopted the Industry Clustering strategy on March 17, 2004 through RDC Resolution No. 6, as a way of enhancing the region’s competitive advantage. Industry Clustering is identified as a major strategy for countryside development and is seen as a focused approach in investment promotion. The strategy promotes networking among local enterprises, buyers, input providers, local policy makers, the academe, research institutions, transport and hauling providers and other stakeholders in the industry, and provides them with a venue to regularly consult with one another. Industry Clustering facilitates investments for the eight clusters in Caraga; which are the wood, oil palm, tourism, abaca, high value vegetables, seaweed and arts and crafts clusters. Combined, the 8 clusters have an investment potential that is estimated to amount to at least P80 billion. Industry Investment Potential (Value adding activities not included) Wood P50 billion Oil Palm P10 billion Tourism P10 billion Banana P5 billion Abaca P2 billion High Value Vegetables P2 billion Seaweed P500 million Arts & Crafts P500 million There are also emerging industry clusters in the region. The mining, coconut and processed food industries are among the identified emerging clusters. When fully developed, these two emerging clusters would contribute a significant amount of investments. With strong commitment and close partnership of the region’s industry leaders, government sector, academe, and people’s organizations coupled with the support of the Caragans as a whole…we create an environment conducive to business growth. FORESTRY. AGRICULTURE. MINING. ECO-TOURISM (FAME) Go for FAME in Caraga. Butuan City Mayor Democrito Plaza, Chairperson of the Caraga Regional Development Council, led the ribbon-cutting ceremony during the launching of the Caraga Industry Clustering Program last May 16, 2005 at Almont's Inland Resort, Butuan City. Assisting him are former Butuan City Mayor Daisy Plaza, NEDA Regional Director Carmencita Cochingco and DTI Asst. Regional Director Alicia V. Euseña. Caraga IC Technical Working Group Brielgo Pagaran Regional Director, DTI-Caraga Overall IC Coordinator Arnold Faelnar DTI-Caraga Emmanuel Gidacan NEDA-Caraga Grace Harting NEDA-Caraga Angelita Espinosa PCA-Caraga Lynn Pareñas DA-Caraga Juanita Bahian BFAR-Caraga Dr. Gaudencio Petalcorin NORMISIST Jean Camarin DOT-Caraga Daria Galemba DTI-Caraga Ronquillo Gumilet FIDA-Caraga Website maitained by Arnold Faelnar of DTI-Caraga. For comments and suggestions, please email to arnold.faelnar @gmail.com . First name: Last name: Email address: Company: Address 1: Address 2: City: State: Zip code: Phone: Message...