Cebu business chamber, USAID launch online marketplace

CEBU CITY  -The Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI), in partnership with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), is set to relaunch next month a web-based online marketplace and app, providing a major platform for businesses in the province and the larger Visayan region to ply their goods.

CCCI president Charles Kenneth Co on Wednesday said the business group understood the potential of digital platforms in expanding the reach of businesses, but acknowledged that the digital readiness of sellers and merchants remained a stumbling block.

“In today’s rapidly evolving digital landscape, being digitally ready is crucial for businesses to thrive. It encompasses having the necessary infrastructure, skills and knowledge to leverage technology effectively and harness its potential for growth,” Co told reporters during a press conference organized by the US Embassy.

“Unfortunately, many sellers, merchants and platforms in our region are encountering difficulties in these areas, hindering their ability to fully utilize the CCCI Marketplace,” he added, referring to the name of the online platform that will be relaunched in July.

To date, the CCI has more than 900 member companies, making it one of the largest and most prominent business organizations not just in the region but also nationwide.

USAID chief of party Vice Catudio Jr. said they would help CCCI members with capacity-building programs through the aid agency’s Strengthening Private Enterprises for the Digital Economy program to help them with the online market platform.