RP products shine at 6th China-Asean expo

MANILA, Philippines - Philippine products and services, from fruit juices to real estate, made a mark at the 6th China-ASEAN Expo in Nanning, Guangxi, China.  

Exhibitors said the trade fair opened up new opportunities for Filipino businessmen to expand their market.

Myrna Melad-Bajar told The STAR after the international trade event that First Vita Plus, a health drink extracted from malunggay leaves and four other power herbs, was a big hit.

She said her team sold out all of the product samples they brought to China, with customers asking for more of the native Filipino healthy vegetable drink which can help prevent a number of illnesses including cancer.  

Lamoiyan Corp.’s Hapee toothpaste also sold out all of its samples, and it is optimistic that it will soon have a local distributor that will allow the Filipino brand to infiltrate the Chinese market.

Renato Remanes of the Depart-ment of Agriculture said Philippine booths at the expo did very well, especially the booths of Kalinga Brew and Team Asia, which showcased locally-produced coffee and refined coconut oil, among others.

Video presentations about the best places to visit in the Philippines showcased scenic spots in Metro Manila, Palawan, Iloilo, Cagayan de Oro and other places as well as spa, cosmetic surgery and other wellness attractions and services.

Trade volume at the expo reached a record high of $1.654 billion, 3.8 percent higher than that of 2008. 

Guangxi Vice Governor Wu Chen said both the 6th China ASEAN Expo and the 6th China-ASEAN Business Investment Summit which sought to “pragmatically promote China-ASEAN cooperation (has) gained remarkable achievements” and was a great success for China and the 10 ASEAN countries that participated in the event. The ASEAN member countries are: Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.