Phil-Russian council may assist furniture industry

CEBU, Philippines - The Philippine-Russian Business Assembly aims to provide assistance to the furniture sector after it successfully aided various sectors in the country.

This according to Honorary Consul of the Russian Federation Armi Lopez Garcia during yesterday’s 888 News Forum as she announced the upcoming Philippine-Russian Business Forum slated on August 7, 2009 at the Cebu International Convention Center.

Garcia said the Philippine-Russian Business Assembly has already helped out different sectors such as the accessory industry, wherein they saw the potential for growth for the said sector as its products are quite small and easy to transport.

She added that PRBA gave assistance in forms of tax perks for products showcased in exhibits.

Garcia further said that they have also helped the Gifts, Toys, and Hardware sector, after which they are now eyeing to extend assistance to the furniture sector, which she said is part of her interests considering her advocacy to help expand products from the Philippines for import and export.

These issues will be tackled during the upcoming business forum. The forum also aims to discuss possible partnerships between Filipinos and Russians who are interested to go in business ventures in both countries.

Carrying the theme “New Ties, New Markets, New Ways,” Garcia said the forum will be a fitting venue for participants to be “educated in both communities.”

   She said that it will be an opportuned time to give delegates, who will be the local businessmen and those coming from Russia, further information on the things they would want to know about both countries especially in the business sector.

Other topics to be discussed during the forum include the General Overview of Philippine-Russian Business Relations, The Philippines as Gateway to ASEAN-Russian Cooperation, Doing Business in the Philippines and Doing Business in Russia.

Garcia said that they are also opening the forum for more outputs coming from the participants through the open discussion where various speakers from different sectors would answer.

The keynote speech is scheduled to be given by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo while Secretary Joseph Ace Durano is also set to speak during the forum.— AJ de la Torre