In the Philippines, Iloilo is one of the most accessible cities in the country. Its strategic location, about 283 statute miles from Manila through Antique waters and 337.6 nautical miles through Capiz waters, made it the business and government gateway to the fluorishing region of Western Visayas.  From Manila, Iloilo City is only 45 minutes by plane and 18 hours by the fastest ship.  From Cebu, it is only 25 minutes by plane.

Iloilo City, determined to recapture its crown as the "Queen City of the South," continue to stride towards revitalizing socio-economic growth. The coming in of multi-million investments and the rise in private building construction and emergence of new industries give a beam to its business atmosphere.

The city's population represents a big manpower pool and a growing consumer market.  Purchasing power is generally high given the favorable income distribution in Iloilo. Assuring the business sector of a steady supply of multi-skilled manpower are the city's 22 tertiary schools.

Iloilo is one of the richest fishing grounds in the country. Its waters teem with grouper (lapulapu), tuna and blue marlin. Prawns, milkfish (bangus), shrimps and other popular marine varieties are cultured in fish farms. Marine resources are particularly abundant in the municipality of Estancia which has been called the  Alaska of the Philippines.

Iloilo hosts the Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center (SEAFDEC), a multi-national aquaculture research facility located in Tigbauan. SEAFDEC has been successful in its spawning of prawns and milkfish under controlled environments.
Iloilo was once the Queen City of the South and is determined to regain its crown.

It was chosen as the site of the Regional Agro-industrial Center (RAIC) of Western Visayas.  A special economic zone in the municipality of Pavia which is approximately 9-11 km from the Iloilo airport is being developed by the private sector.

The most feasible business to locate in Pavia include agri-based industries; garment manufacturing; houseware production and gift toys; machinery and equipment manufacturing; packaging and canning; and electronics and chemical products manufacture.

Iloilo City is known for its notable events, places, churches and foods such as: