APRCE, APEC Summit to boost Philippine retail growth

MANILA, Philippines - Local retailers are looking forward to two big international events in October and November.

Philippine Retailers Association (PRA) president Lorenzo “Enchong” C. Formoso, COO of Duty Free Philippines, said the Manila hosting of the 17th Asia Pacific Retailers Convention and Exhibition (APRCE) 2015 from Oct. 28 to 30 at the SMX Convention Center and the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Leaders’ Summit in November are certain to focus the global spotlight on the country.

Formoso, during the grand media launch of the 17th APRCE Manila, said these events, which would attract high-profile visitors to the country, would help ramp up the growth of the Philippine retail industry this year and hopefully onwards.

 “We expect a better year this year. Hopefully this will redound to at least a five percent growth.  We are seeing a lot of positive benefits with the country’s hosting of the APEC meetings and the PRA’s hosting of the APRCE Manila 2015, the biggest and grandest retail industry event in the region this year, and a lot of foreigners will visit the country,” he said.

The PRA is also staging the Philippine Shopping Festival during this period wherein malls and chain stores in the country would mount promotional sales and offer discounts to complement the big international events.          

PRA chair and APRCE 2015 overall chair Frederick D. Go, president of Robinsons Recreation Corp., said the two-day event “is an opportunity for us to learn, show and do; the opportunities are limitless,” noting the Philippines  beat Thailand and Australia for the right to host the APRCE this year.

The PRA particularly focuses on the APRCE Manila 2015, which is expected to attract over 2,000 international  and local retailers and retail executives. The expo also expects more than 200 local and foreign exhibitors.

Manila last hosted the APRCE 22 years ago, also through PRA’s efforts with support from then President Fidel V. Ramos. 

PRA chairman emeritus Samie Lim, chairman of BLIMS Lifestyle Group and Canadian Tourism and Hospitality Institute, and the acknowledged Father of Philippine Franchising, noted APRCE would be a venue for foreign retailers who are  looking at the Philippines for possible equity ventures to see the market first hand. 

The PRA, the recognized organization of retailers and suppliers to the retail industry in the country, hosts the 17th APRCE, reputedly the biggest and grandest retail industry event in the Asia Pacific. This is organized by the Federation of Asia Pacific Retailers Association (FAPRA), the organization of 17 recognized national retail associations in the region.

The Manila APRCE 2015 is co-presented by the Tourism Promotions Board, The SM Store and Wyeth Nutrition. With Bench, Flight 001 and Penshoppe as platinum sponsors; Robinsons Malls and Ayala Malls, PLDT Alpha, Megaworld, Unilab, Mercury Drug as gold sponsors; Duty Free Philippines, HP, Wilcon Depot, Kojie-san, Celine, MET Tathione  as silver sponsors; Araneta Center as bronze sponsor; Philippine Airlines as official carrier; Mastercard as preferred card; Sportshouse and Heritage Multi-Office Products, Inc. as sponsors; Solaire Resort & Casino Hotel as official partner hotel; Shook Kelley and IGD as special session sponsors; Media Blitz Group as official Media and Public Relations group; Retail Asia as official international publication; Asia Pacific Travel Retail Association as partner organization: Fascin8, as official digital advertising partner; official newspaper-Philippine Star; official media partner-Business World; Retail Customer Experience, Asia Briefing, Inside Retail Asia and Oxford Business Group as digital media partners, and ABS-CBN News Channel/Shoptalk as broadcast media partner.

For inquiries on sponsorships, booths and registration, contact the PRA secretariat at  687-4180, 687-4181, 687-4985, or email [email protected], [email protected],  [email protected], or visit its website www.2015APRCEMANILA.com.ph and www.philretailers.com.