21 March 2014 - Philippine Consul General in Manado Jose D.R. Burgos hosted the 7th Special Meeting of the North Sulawesi-Mindanao Business Council (NORSULMIN), which was held in the Consulate General’s premises on March 12. Attendees to the meeting included members of the NORSUMIN, East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA) Secretariat of North Sulawesi based in Manado, North Minahasa Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KADIN), and Garuda Indonesia.
Discussed during the meeting were developments to jumpstart the resumption of regular Davao-Manado direct flights, in particular, the expressed willingness of a charterer for the direct flights between Davao and Manado cities, with a target date set for April 2014. Moreover, during the meeting, it was decided that Garuda Indonesia be the dedicated airline to serve the Davao-Manado-Davao direct air route, due to the airline’s status as Indonesia’s flag carrier, as well as the availability of aircraft (two of its Canadian-made Bombardier CEJ1000 NEXGEN aircrafts which are presently based in Dr. Sam Ratulangi International Airport, Manado and are ready for use by the charterer).
In the wake of the Special Meeting, the Consul General informed of his plans to call on the Governor of North Sulawesi, Dr. Sinyo Harry Sarundajang on March 18 to discuss the impending launch of the direct flights as well as the signing of an MOU between the charterer and Garuda Indonesia, to be witnessed by the North Sulawesi Provincial government. END