In a bid to showcase the Philippines as a formidable trading partner for China, the Department of Trade and Industry’s export promotion agency, the Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions (DTI-CITEM) went beyond the usual in ensuring that the Philippine National Pavilion will represent the country in a new light.
DTI Secretary Ramon Lopez leads a 300-strong delegation in the first ever import-only platform happening on November 5-10, 2018 at the National Exhibition and Convention Center in Shanghai. The China International Import Expo (CIIE) is the first international expo in China that solely features foreign exhibitors to capture the interest of the local Chinese market.
There will also be talks from experts that will go over how companies can make their transition to using Chinese products and manufacturing facilities easier – the expo isn’t just to promote Philippino goods but also to show Philippino companies how China is a good place to outsource their manufacturing process to. The talks will cover various topics, from using a chinese translation agency to write contracts to finding the right factories to work with to
The delegation is composed of a total of 47 private companies and government agencies that occupy around 400 square meters of exhibition space at the Enterprise and Business Zone.
The exhibitors are presenting top-notch products and services from the Philippines encompassing various industries such as food and agriculture, consumer goods, accessories and apparel, electronic and automotive products, tourism, information technology, outsourcing, franchising and education services.
Building on the theme, “Partner Philippines: Building Value Together” Aaron Palileo talked about the team’s vision for the National Pavilion, “We knew that we didn’t want to focus on presenting the Chinese a laundry list of the products the Philippines has to offer. We wanted to find what was uniquely ours, which was our longstanding relationship with China.”
The visual potential and links to Filipino national identity inspired the designers to create a National Pavilion that celebrates the local craft of weaving. This is envisioned to help the country showcase its successes in the trade, tourism and investment sectors as well as signify its synergistic relationship with China.
“There is a very keen interest in weaving. In fact, the curiosity to the craft is very high and interesting enough that we believe it will be able to lure the people inside the pavilion,” said Jason Buensalido, who was responsible for overseeing the overall look of the National Pavilion. He emphasized the countless years the Filipinos spent perfecting the craft to turn it into one of the art forms that the Philippines can proudly claim.
“For me, the most important aspect of the design of the National Pavilion is the symbolic gesture of intertwining different threads which symbolize the cooperation between the two countries. In this case, it is in the form of services, products and nations coming together to fulfill a greater cause,” Buensalido added.
Aside from showcasing the different industries that the Philippines are offering to the Chinese market, DTI-CITEM also arranged the National Pavilion to have a convergence area where various events such as the opening night, networking activities and musical performances could be held in. Furthermore, the agency is positive that the National Pavilion is making an impact in the ongoing event by providing a unique selling narrative that embodies the Philippines as a trading partner and positions it as a reliable source of high-quality products and services.
The Philippine participation in the CIIE was organized by the Department of Trade and Industry through its attached agencies; the Export Marketing Bureau (EMB), the Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions (CITEM), Foreign Trade Service Corps (FTSC), Philippine Trade and Investment Center – China (PTIC-China) and the Philippine Board of Investments (BOI). The event was organized in partnership with the Department of Agriculture (DA), Tourism Promotions Board (TPB), Department of Science and Technology (DOST), Commission on Higher Education (CHED), the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI), Bank of China (BOC), Federation of Filipino-Chinese Chambers of Commerce & Industry, Inc. (FFFCCI), Integrated Development Studies Institute (IDSI), Anvil Business Club and Philippine Airlines.