Russians lead Cebu X buyers’ delegates

Russian buyers lead the delegates of foreign buyers yesterday at the opening of the 19th Cebu International Furniture and Furnishings Exhibition or Cebu X 2008.

Aside from the 79 Russian buyers that pre-registered online, another 36-man delegation from Russia will be coming in anytime during the four-day show, said Cebu Furniture Industries Foundation (CFIF) executive director Ruby Salutan.

“The Philippine Trade Attache from Russia informed us of more Russian buyers coming in anytime,” Salutan said.

Although the show is considered as a smaller exhibition, compared to the events it organized for the past 19 years, due to weaker market demand in the United States, furniture export stakeholders are still optimistic that they could gain popularity in other countries like Russia.  Aside from Russia, the ongoing exhibition carrying the theme “Excite!” is also attracting good number of Middle Eastern buyers, specifically from Dubai . Expectedly, declining number of buyers from the United States was noted.

Other foreign buyers who registered at the opening yesterday, were from other countries in Asia.

Salutan said furniture stakeholders who are participating the show is expecting more foreign buyers to come in the next four days.

Last year, the Cebu X generated US$15 million from actual sales of the four-day event, with a total of 1,400 buyers came to visit the show.

Salutan said that this year’s exhibitors is hoping for a good sales turn-out with quality buyers especially the Russians, Europeans, and Middle Easterns.

In her speech during the formal opening of the show, Cebu Provincial Governor Gwendolyn Garcia, vowed to help the struggling furniture industry, or the export sector in general, especially in extending international marketing support.

“She promised to support us in marketing to the international market. In fact, she mentioned that she is going to bring us along in her visit to Slovenia in Eastern Europe ,” Salutan said.

CFIF president Eric Casas for his part welcomed the Governor’s offer of support saying “ Eastern Europe is not an easy market to penetrate. With her support we are confident that we can development the Eastern European market.”

According to Salutan, with the mounting challenges being faced by the furniture exporters today, the industry is preparing to re-position itself and strengthen its attractiveness to the European consumers.

Aside from intensifying Cebu’s position as the “ Design Center ” in furniture making, she said the industry bound to project itself as “Eco-friendly” furniture maker in the world.

In Europe , Casas said there is a growing demand for furniture makers to be an eco-friendly furniture producer. “They [European market] are very strict.”