GOVPH

Leading coconut firm Hainan Yedao steps up PH import plans, PH assures strong backing

SHANGHAI – Hainan Yedao (Group) Company Ltd., a major beverage company and one of China’s top importers of coconut leading fruit and fresh produce traders, is keen to boost its fruit imports from the Philippines. It is also mulling to break other Philippine fruits into the Chinese market.

Hainan Yedao laid out its plans in a meeting with Philippine trade and agriculture officials converging in Shanghai from Beijing, Xiamen and Manila for the 5^th China International Import Expo (CIIE) led by Consul General in Shanghai Josel F. Ignacio.

The group included Agriculture Counsellor Ana GM B. Abejuela, Philippine Trade and Investment Center Chief Mario C. Tani, Consul Francis M. Herrera, CITEM Business Representative Raymond Tan, DTI-Export Marketing Bureau Specialists Ms. Heizle Trasmañas, Christine Grace C. Victoria, and Raiza A. Caybot, and Ms. Forrina SUN.

Joining the Philippine entourage were snack giant Oishi/Shanghaojia’s (Liwayway China Co. Ltd.) President Larry A. Chan and his R&D team.

The group was received by executives led by former President FENG Biao, Managing Director Ms. QI Miao Miao, General Manager Ms. Lily SHUI, and Chief Strategy Officer/Director Oswald WONG. Also in attendance were Yedao’s banking and other partners for its operations and plans.

The Philippine officials committed their assistance in Hainan Yedao’s collaboration with Filipino exporters in its drive to raise Philippine imports and the company’s expansion of overseas operations.

At the conclusion of the meeting, a ceremonial presentation of Hainan Yedao’s purchase commitment for coconut products to the DTI-EMB took place, with Consul General Ignacio and delegation members witnessing. END

Philippine food and agri export sector reaps record sales and deals at 5th China International Import Expo

SHANGHAI – The Philippines ended its participation in the 5^th China International Import Expo (CIIE) on a truly high note, total sales and deals closed hit a record USD 655.15 million.

The Philippines fulfilled its avowed target of exceeding last year’s CIIE sales of USD 597 million, improving on the latter by a solid 9.74%.

The outcome also sustains a five-year streak for the Philippines of consistently higher sales, year-on-year dating back to the Expo’s inception in 2018.

According to the Philippine Trade and Investment Center-Shanghai (PTIC), the value of this year’s CIIE sales is also the highest this year for Philippine country participation in a trade expo anywhere in the world. “Our trade and agriculture officials and exhibitors did a marvelous job. This stellar outcome also leaves no doubt about the robust demand for quality Philippine food products and agricultural produce in China’s huge and still expanding market”, said Consul General Josel F. Ignacio. “There is plenty of room to fill, and the annual CIIE is unmatched as a vehicle for our future promotion and closing those crucial deals”.

Contributing to the outstanding results was the participation of a record high 62 food and food-related PH companies, and the spotlight trained this year by the Philippine government on coconut and specialty coffee.

The core Philippine government delegation this year was composed of Consul General Ignacio, Agriculture Counsellor (Beijing) Ms. Ana GM B. Abejuela, PTIC-Beijing Commercial Counselor Emmanuel Niño W. Ang, Consul John Francis S. Herrera, CITEM Business Representative Raymond Tan, and DTI-Export Marketing Bureau Specialists Ms. Heizle Trasmañas, Christine Grace C. Victoria, and Raiza A. Caybot.

The CIIE is the world’s largest import-themed exhibition and takes place in Shanghai every November. END

Presidential Award conferred on advertising exec and entrepreneur Caroline B. Ong

On behalf of the Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO), Consul General Josel F. Ignacio conferred on 19 November on Ms. CAROLINE B. ONG, the PRESIDENTIAL AWARD FOR FILIPINO INDIVIDUALS AND ORGANIZATIONS OVERSEAS (PAFIOO), Pamana ng Pilipino Category.

Ms. Ong is a multi-awarded advertising executive, entrepreneur, and one of the movers of Shanghai’s Filipino community.

Established under Executive Order No. 498 of 1991, the PAFIOO honors Filipino individuals and organizations overseas who have rendered services, shared actionable ideas, and performed other acts that have contributed to the Philippines’ prestige and growth and advanced the cause and welfare of migrant Filipino communities.

The Pamana ng Pilipino Category recognizes Filipinos who have brought honor to the Philippines through excellence in their profession.

Travel restrictions hindered Ms. Ong from attending the main PAFIOO awards ceremony in Manila on 29 June this year. The CFO requested the Philippine Consulate General to present the Award to the Shanghai-based awardee.

The conferment rites were attended by Ms. Ong’s family, close friends and personal guests, as well as leaders of the Filipino community.

Ms. Ong was recognized for her many standout achievements and contributions. Her advertising work has been the honored with advertising awards from the Cannes Lions, International Festival of Creativity and has been listed multiple timed in 1998-2020 in Asia’s Hottest Creatives List.

Active in the Filipino Community, she co-founded and helped lead the Philippine Chamber of Business and Professionals-Shanghai (PHILCHAMSH), a group that brings together and supports Filipino professionals and entrepreneurs in this sprawling metropolis and financial center.

She currently runs her own business, BebeBalm Inc., which manufactures and markets her self-developed line of plant-based skin salves. Initially developed as a safer alternative home remedy for her children’s sensitive skin, Bebebalm products are gaining a growing and loyal following in China, and is also being marketed in the Philippines and the US.

In her response following the conferment, Ms. Ong extolled Filipino creativity, and expressed her fervent hope that more doors be opened for Filipino creatives and artists. END