ILOCOS NORTE FORGETS STRONGER TIES WITH SHANDONG, CHINA

LAOAG CITY, Ilocos Norte

Ilocos Norte is pursuing stronger relations and is eyeing new investments with Shandong Province, China, as their delegations including government officials, leaders of state-owned enterprises, and
partner university met during the first day of the trade mission there. Governor Matthew Marcos Manotoc, along with representatives of food and agriculture, tourism and creative industries, and trade and investment promotions sectors were welcomed in Jinan, Shandong Wednesday by the
Deputy Director-General of Shandong Foreign Affairs Office, Sun Yebao.

The Provincial Government of Ilocos Norte dreams to promote cooperation, discuss possible exchange programs and collaborations, present the status of priority areas of different sectors, and
conduct discussions on pursuing a doable action plan for cooperation for both Shandong and Ilocos Norte. For more than two decades, Shandong has been a sisterprovince of Ilocos Norte, and both have established collaborations in the fields of agriculture, infrastructure, business, and education, among others.

The Ilocos Norte provincial government, said Gov. Manotoc, continuously works to create a more “investment friendly” environment in the province by “ensuring quality infrastructures are built to
accommodate business operations, offering strong government support through the amendment of the province’s code to maximize the benefits of all economic activities to all stakeholders.” As such, Ilocos Norte hopes to welcome soon companies from Shandong. Manotoc and his delegation visited the Shandong Academy of Agricultural Science and also met with Shandong’s Vice Governor and
foreign affair officials, the Ilocos Norte media office said.

Artemio A. Dumlao/ABN

Amianan Balita Ngayon