The groundbreaking ceremony on March 18, 2019 in Barangay Kulape, Panglima Sugala, Tawi-Tawi has been attended by local politicians, Senators and Governors escorted by the soldiers, and almost all the citizens in the capital participated in the ceremony. The grand ceremony was first addressed by the Governor and the Senator thus sponsored by HRH Datu Mohd Kudhar Sultan Kiram.
The Signing Ceremony was held in the gymnasium located in the area. Koko Pimentel, a former Senator of the Philippines from 2016 to 2018 attended the signing and groundbreaking ceremony as a close rapport to the President of the Philippines. Datu Seri Peter Pun from Hong Kong, the initial investor of the project (Tawi-Tawi Special Economic Zone & Transhipment Port) worth $ 2 billion and Datu Seri William Ong from Malaysia attended the ceremony.
Groundbreaking Ceremony
Transhipment Port
The strategic location of Tawi-Tawi in the Sulu Sea allows businesses to obtain optimal needs and objectives, that allows the business to maximize opportunity while minimizing costs and risks. Consequently, the location can significantly boost businesses' long-term performance. It is known to be the key ingredient in a businesses' success.
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Transhipment port location should conform with and be part of its overall corporate strategy. If a company strives to become a global leader in transhipment port, it must consider establishing plants and warehouses in regions that are consistent with its strategy that is optimally located to serve its global customers.
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The attractiveness of the port is dependent on the infrastructural development and reduction in logistics processes. Sulu needed to have the transhipment port because the state has demonstrated averagely strong economic progress.
The benefits of forming the transhipment port in Tawi-Tawi include growth in tourism within the region and in Sulu. This will enhance economic growth and development of Sulu in general.