CEBU, Philippines - A 40-man delegation, composed of members of the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI), will be participating in the world’s largest fair site, the Shanghai World Expo.
CCCI president Samuel Chioson said that the Cebu delegation that will visit the Philippine Pavillon at the Expo site, will go to Shanghai, China immediately after the Cebu Business Month 2010 in June.
The CCCI delegation to China is scheduled to have nine-day trade mission trip, which will be highlighted with the group’s participation to the Shanghai World Expo.
“We want to participate in a three-day visit in the Philippine Pavillon at the Shanghai World Expo. It would be a good exposure for us. Aside from meeting potential partners and clients, we will also learn what’s new in business,” Chioson said in an interview.
The Shanghai World Expo, which started in May 1 to October 31, 2010 carries the theme “Better City—Better Life” and signifies Shanghai’s new status in the 21st century as the “next great world city.”
More than 190 countries and more than 50 international organizations are participating in the Expo, the largest ever.
According to Chioson different industry players in Cebu have signified interest to join the Cebu delegation, while 40 have already registered.
Aside from visiting the Shanghai World Expo for four days, Chioson said the CCCI trade mission to China will also visit Beijing to strengthen trade links with Chinese businessmen in this particular City in China.
Chioson said the delegation will come from different industries, such as Information Technology, Academe, export, manufacturing, and banking, among others.
China expects to receive almost 100 foreign leaders and millions of people from across the world to come and visit the World Expo. More than 70 to 100 million visitors are expected to visit the expo.
The Shanghai World Expo is also the largest World's Fair site ever at 5.28 square kilometers.
With the chamber’s thrust to link international trade partnership through foreign trade mission is being aggressively pursued, and the China trip is the first international trade mission of the chamber members for the year.
While, the chamber is still busy with the preparation of the 14th Cebu Business Month celebration in June, Chioson said the trade missions will start in July starting with the China trip.
In the following months, he said chamber members may also visit other countries like Eastern Europe, Australia, New Zealand, and Mexico. But, as of now, CCCI is still working for diplomatic approval from embassy offices of these countries.
Chioson, being the Honorary Consul of Portugal, and former Dean for Consular Corps of the Philippines-Cebu Chapter, is also personally negotiating with different embassy offices in other countries, to push for more trade mission events.