GOVPH

IFEX serves up banquet of deals between PH food firms and Chinese buyers

Pasay City, PHILIPPINES –  Food trade between the Philippines and Mainland China won big at the 16^th annual International Food Exhibition (IFEX) at the World Trade Center in Pasay City last 26-28 May, as Chinese buyers closed substantial deals and orders with participating Filipino food enterprises.

The Chinese buyers were part of a 25-person delegation to the IFEX -- the first large Chinese business mission that came over to the Philippines since Mainland China lifted restrictions to outbound travel earlier this year. The delegation was put together by the DTI through the Philippine Trade and Investment Center (PTIC) in Shanghai.

They represented major Chinese enterprises such as Hema/Freshippo Supermarket, Dole Packaged Foods Shanghai; Yuanhe Investment, Zhangjiang Research Institute, Lianyungang Dawn Trading, Virgin Healthcare Technologies Shanghai, Minheng Group Co. Ltd., Prestige International Trading Co. Ltd., Dashang Group, Jiangsu Suhang Supply Chain Group Co. Ltd., and Wuxi Renzhou Technology Trading.

Also part of the delegation were major Philippine companies with operations and product presence in China, such as Liwayway China Co. Ltd. (Oishi) led by its President Mr. Larry Chan, and Century Shanghai Trading Co. Ltd. represented by CEO Mr. Adrian Campillo.

Present in Manila to accompany the delegation were Philippine Consul General in Shanghai Josel F. Ignacio, PTIC-Shanghai Chief Mario C. Tani and his team, and Agriculture Counsellor (Beijing) Ms. Ana GM B. Abejuela.

Also receiving them were CITEM Executive Director Dr. Edward L. Fereira, DTI/FTSC Assistant Secretary Glenn Peñaranda. Senior Agriculture

Undersecretary Domingo F. Panganiban hosted the delegation to a welcome lunch on 26 May, while Consul General Ignacio tendered a farewell dinner at Intramuros on 27 May.

Food trade is a major contributor to bilateral trade between the Philippines and China, and is seen by the Philippine Government as an avenue to easing the substantial merchandise trade deficit with the economic powerhouse.

Philippine food industry players also actively participate in turn in Chinese trade exhibition platforms, such as the annual China International Import Expo (CIIE) in Shanghai where the Philippines netted USD 655 million worth of deals last year.

Meanwhile, the Philippines also shipped its first exports of fresh Golden Puyat durians to China in April this year.

Billed as the largest gathering of Philippine food industry players, IFEX Philippines is the country’s premier international food trade show and is a major selling and sourcing platform for Philippine and global food and ingredients. It is heavy on regional food small and medium enterprises (SME) representation as well, enabling such players to vie for opportunities and deals to expand their business and markets. END