DTI execs miss China expo due to budget constraints

MANILA, Philippines — Budget constraints prevented Philippine officials from attending the 5th China-South Asia Exposition and the 25th China Kunming Import and Export Fair hosted by Yunnan province, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) said.

In a statement, the DTI said it has undertaken a strategy this year in determining strategic country participation at bigger fairs held in China, “in relation to the limited budget provided to the department for trade fair participations abroad.”

“On record, the officials of the province of Yunnan expressed their support to the DTI’s decision not to participate this year at the 25th China Kunming Import and Export Fair and welcomed the invite of the DTI to meet with the Philippine delegation at the upcoming 1st China International Import Expo (CIIE) in Shanghai this coming November,“ the agency said.

In a STAR report published on Monday, the Chinese Filipino Business Club Inc. (CFBCI) said the Philippines failed to take advantage of the exposition by not sending representatives that would showcase the country’s products.

The Philippines reportedly has only one booth out of the 8,500 in the 190,000-square-meter exhibition area and appeared to be a fly-on-the-wall compared to the other Association of Southeast Asian Nation member-countries’ that occupied huge portions particularly Thailand, Vietnam, and Cambodia.

“The DTI is saddened by the statement provided by CFBCI in the report that mentioned the country’s lack of support to the private sector in taking advantage of the opportunities provided by the said fair. However, the DTI clarifies that the Philippines’ participation at the 25th China Kunming Import and Export Fair 2018 was discussed accordingly with the officials of the province of Yunnan during their visit to Manila last May 17, a month before the actual trade fair,“ the agency said.

“During the said visit of the officials of the province of Yunnan, the DTI expressed its support for the said fair. However, it also emphasized the lack of budget and limited time for preparation for the country’s participation at the Kunming Import and Export Fair this year and has offered to take a closer look on the proposal for the possibility of joining the fair in 2019,“ it added.

The DTI remains committed to supporting Filipino exporters and traders in maximizing opportunities that will help them gain access to markets such as China.

“With the blooming trade relations between the Philippines and China, invitations and requests to join fairs and expositions in China abound from city, provincial, and national levels.  There has been an increase in inbound missions and support requests from many China-related business associations. DTI endeavors to attend to these requests to the extent of its absorptive capacity and priorities,“ the agency said.

DTI said it intends to seek a bigger budget and dedicated support for the country’s increased participation in international trade fairs not only in China but also in other markets.

The agency also urged private sector organizations to continue to engage and partner in maximizing opportunities that the global trade offers to Filipino businesses and products.