Phl firms generate $25-M sales in SIAL fair

MANILA, Philippines - Philippine companies generated close to $25 million worth of sales from the SIAL (Salon International de I’Agroalimentaire) food fair held in France last month, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) said.

“We were very successful. The 15 Philippine companies in SIAL had $24 million worth of negotiated sales and $600,000 worth of booked sales,” DTI Export Marketing Bureau director Senen Perlada told reporters yesterday.

Among the country’s best-selling products during the event were coconut water, coco sugar, dried fruits, banana chips and tuna.

Other products showcased during the event were snack food, as well as other alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages.

The SIAL, which is held in Paris every other year, is considered the world’s largest food innovation show.

This year’s trade fair was attended by more than 150,000 visitors and had 6,500 exhibiting companies.

The Philippines participates in events like the SIAL as such provide opportunity to promote products and grow the country’s exports.

Apart from participation in international trade shows, the Philippines is pinning its hopes on the European Union’s (EU) Generalized Scheme of Preferences Plus (GSP+) to support growth in exports.

“When we get the EU GSP+ status, we can see a further increase in exports,” Perlada said.

The Philippines submitted its application for the EU GSP+ earlier this year.

If the Philippines qualifies for EU GSP+ status, the country’s exports to the region are expected to rise as more products are allowed to enter the bloc at zero duty.

At present, the Philippines is a beneficiary of the regular GSP, which covers 6,209 products, with 2,442 products subject to zero duty and the rest slapped with lower tariffs.

The EU GSP+ covers 6,274 products which can enter the EU at zero duty.

Initial estimates from the DTI show the GSP+ status could increase Philippine exports to the EU by 611.8 million euros, representing an 11.96-percent increase from the country’s outbound shipments to the bloc in 2012.