CEBU, Philippines — The Philippines was represented by 43-strong exporters and manufacturers as they seek to expand their market reach in China and neighboring Southeast Asian countries in the 16th China-ASEAN Expo (CAEXPO) held on September 20-23.
Led by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), through the Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions (CITEM), the national delegation showcased the country’s premier export products and services in the food, health and wellness, lifestyle and tourism sectors under the Philippines’ Commodity Pavilion located at the Exhibition Zone D along Hall 12.
“Last year’s bestsellers include coconut products and tropical fruit snacks. Both product lines will be returning to the trade floor this year accompanied by a slew of healthy and innovative food products, such as organic food supplements and organic packaged foods and beverages,” said DTI-CITEM Executive Director Pauline Suaco-Juan.
CAEXPO is one of the biggest trade events in China with a 124,000-square meter exhibition space—the only international trade fair in the region dedicated to promoting the building of China-ASEAN Free Trade Area (CAFTA) and celebrating regional trade cooperation.
In 2018, the four-day event was participated in by more than 2,700 exhibitors and 96,000 buyers and visitors all over the world. The Philippine delegation last year was able to book 22 million US dollars during the four-day event in the Commodity Pavilion.
“As we continue to further our efforts to improve trade relations with China, the ASEAN nations and the rest of the global market, the Philippine government shall, to the best of its abilities, commit to maintaining a conducive environment that allows businesses to thrive in moving towards a more streamlined global trade network,” according to DTI Undersecretary for the Trade Promotions Group (TPG) Abdulgani Macatoman.
Coconut products are included in the products to be exhibited under the Philippine Commodity Pavilion in the upcoming CAEXPO 2019.
From the lifestyle sector are Ai-She Footwear, Benelco Arts and Crafts, Cut N Shape Crafts Manufacturing, Jacildo's Handicraft, JCS Beatus Trading, Inc., Jer Shell's Craft Creations Int'l, Jhaz Footwear, Kit Silver Jewellery, Maddela Flowers and Crafts and Yamang Atin Enterprises.Food and wellness Philippine companies participating in CAEXPO include Ahya Coco Organic Food Manufacturing Corp., Audrey’s Confectioneries, Bea’s Homemade Peanut Butter, Benevelle Corporation, CKL Corporation, Elynne's Pasalubong Products, Eng Seng Food Products, EPL Cacao Products, Fruits of Life, Gees Agri Coco Products, Great Harvest Food Industries, Greenlife Coconut Products Philippines, Inc., Green Tropics Coffee Enterprise, Happi Tummy Foodstuff, Inc., JNRM Corporation, KLT Fruits, Inc., LTH Food Industries, Inc., Marikina Food Corporation, MS3 Agri-Ventures Corp., Phil. Morinda Citrifolia, Inc., Potter's Hand Processed Food, Sangkutsa Food Products, Seabest Food Beverage Corp., Super Q, Tatlong Hari Agri Trade Corporation, Team Asia Corporation, Trans Ocean Food Products, Inc., Universal Canning, Inc., Year Luck Food and Industrial Corp.
Health and wellness companies include EXP Life and Herbs Nutraceuticals and Jegen S.W.E; while education firms include Enterprises Ahead Tutorial and Review Centers Learnup, Inc., Gold Berry Suits and Hotels from the tourism sector.
Aside from the companies, DTI-CITEM will also highlight the trade, investment and tourism sectors of General Santos City, as well as some of the country’s developing economic zones in coordination with the Tourism Promotions Board (TPB) and Board of Investments (BOI), as well as relevant investment promotion agencies (IPAs).
Participating IPAs comprise of the Bureau of Investments (BOI), Clark Development Corporation (CDC), Cagayan Economic Zone Authority (CEZA), Mt. Samat Flagship Tourism Enterprise Zone (FTEZ), Philippine Retirement Authority (PRA), Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) and Tourism Infrastructure and Economic Zone Authority (TIEZA).
The Philippine participation in CAEXPO is led by DTI-CITEM in partnership with the Local Government of General Santos City, Philippine Trade and Investment Centers (PTIC) in Guangzhou, Beijing and Shanghai, DTI - Export Marketing Bureau (EMB), DTI – Region XI, Foreign Trade Service Corps. (FTSC), Board of Investments (BOI), the Tourism Promotions Board (TPB) and other investment promotion agencies (IPAs).