GOVPH

PH Country Team, Chamber discuss elevated profile and representation for PH business in China

SHANGHAI –  Philippine Government officials and the country’s duly recognized Chamber in China forged a consensus to work towards greater visibility for PH enterprises and effective representation of their interests.

The agreement was reached at a luncheon meeting at the Longemont Hotel hosted by the China-Philippines Chamber of Commerce (CPCC) on 05 November for Philippine officials attending the 6^th China International Import Expo (CIIE).

Representing the CPCC were its Acting Secretary General Mr. Allan Liu and Executive Manager Ms. Tracy Leung.

DTI Undersecretary Ceferino S. Rodolfo led the government side, which included Ambassador to China. Jaime A. FlorCruz, Consul General in Shanghai Josel F. Ignacio, Deputy Chief of Mission (Beijing) Dinno M. Oblena, Consul John Francis S. Herrera, Philippine Trade and Investment Center (PTIC)-Shanghai Chief (Consul) Glenn A. Peñaranda, Agriculture Counsellor Ana GM B. Abejuela, Vice Consul Mark Hanzel H. Lao and DA-Region XI Director Abel James I. Monteagudo.

The CPCC is the officially recognized Philippine chamber in the PRC. Its application was approved by the Ministry of Commerce on 16 July 2007. Its registration, meanwhile, was greenlighted by the Ministry of Civil Affairs on 23 June 2008.

Under Chinese law, a country is allowed only one chamber of commerce, which needs to be registered and recognized by the Central Government. Even so, the law allows such lone official chamber to open chapters elsewhere in China, but these branches are not entitled to separate registration or legal identities.

The CPCC brings together major Philippine companies operating in or doing business with China. These include, among others, Solid Industrial (Shenzhen) Co. Ltd., Liwayway (China) Co. Ltd.; Metrobank (China), BDO Unibank, SM China Ltd., Dai-ichi Electronics (Shanghai) Ltd. Shanghai Dingfeng Real Estate Development Co. Ltd. (Robinsons), Fil-Dragon Real Estate Development Co. Ltd., Philippine Airline China Representative Office,  and San Miguel (Guangdong) Brewery Co. Ltd. It also has individual members consisting of Filipino executives and businessmen.

The government delegation and the CPCC exchanged views on strengthening the visibility, work and reach of the CPCC. Both acknowledged the need to build on and take advantage of the ever-growing presence of Filipino enterprises, exporters, businessmen and professionals in China that help underpin the two countries’ trade and investment links, and increased economic interdependence. The network of Philippine diplomatic, consular and trade offices in China will support and sustain engagement with the CPCC in 2024 and beyond, towards attaining these goals. END

PCG, Batangas Governor discuss collaboration to boost FDI into Batangas, Calabarzon

SHANGHAI –  The Philippine Country Team in Shanghai is rallying behind CALABARZON’s drive to secure more investments from China.

This was the gist of Consul General Josel F. Ignacio’s discussions with visiting Batangas Governor Hermilando I. Mandanas, who called on the Consulate General on 09 November.

Gov. Mandanas, who is concurrently Chair of the Regional Development Council (RDC) of Region IV-A (CALABARZON), was accompanied by his representative in China, Mr. JIANG Bo, and special assistant Mr. ZHENG Tengxiong. Also at the call were Consul John Francis S. Herrera and Ms. Forrina SUN of the Philippine Trade and Investment Center.

The Governor outlined his FDI promotion plans for Batangas Province and the larger region, citing the active role and contributions of Chinese enterprises.

Along these lines, Consul General Ignacio reported on the Country Team’s efforts to entice more investments from China to locate operations in the Philippines. He cited the meetings hosted by the Consulate General between DTI Undersecretary and BOI Managing Head Ceferino S. Rodolfo and Chinese investors on 04 November. Among others, he highlighted global top-10 bearings manufacturer C&U, which has been in Batangas since 2019 and is due to invest in a new multimillion-dollar facility in the province very soon.

Earlier in the week, the Consul General and Gov. Mandanas also met at the Food Philippines Pavilion at the ongoing 6^th China International Import Expo, where the Governor also had the opportunity to engage DTI Undersecretary Ceferino S. Rodolfo, Ambassador to China Jaime A. FlorCruz, other Philippine Trade and Agriculture officials, and exhibitors. END

PH Consulate General-Shanghai raises curtains on revamped cultural wing and Filipiniana library

SHANGHAI –  The promotion of Philippine culture, arts and languages gained a foothold in China’s financial capital with the inauguration of the Philippine Consulate General’s new Cultural Wing and Filipiniana Library on 04 November 2023.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony presided over by Consul General Josel F. Ignacio with guests of honor DTI Undersecretary Ceferino S. Rodolfo and Philippine Ambassador to China Jaime A. FlorCruz marked the venue’s opening.

The Cultural Wing and Library fills renovated space formerly occupied by the main Consular Area and transaction counters, which were transferred to a more spacious location within the Consulate General in November 2022.

It serves as repository of the Consulate General’s rich and ever expanding collection of publications, media and materials on the Philippines, its peoples and rich heritage.

Also on proud display are examples of the Filipino people’s rich heritage, such as folk and indigenous instruments, ethnic accessories and fabrics, and artworks.

All are to be made accessible to the public at appointed hours and with prior coordination with the Consulate General’s Cultural Section.

“This Wing and Library represent a home, a pied-à-terre as it were, for Philippine culture here in Eastern China”, said Consul General Ignacio. “We look forward to receiving Filipinos and foreign visitors to enrich their understanding of the Philippines via our collection and periodic events at this venue.”

The PCG Cultural Wing and Library’s design prominently features and honors Dr. José P. Rizal, whose life and work had been dedicated to the similar ends.

“It is our aspiration to have this venue join the expanding ranks of overseas Sentro Rizal branches housed in other Philippine diplomatic and consular missions”, stressed the Consul General.

The establishment of the Sentro Rizal and its branches was sanctioned under Article XII of Republic Act No. 10066, otherwise known as the “National Cultural Heritage Act of 2009”, signed into law on 25 March 2009. END