GOVPH

Food Philippines Pavilion lures buyers, hefty deals at world’s biggest import expo

PH SPECIALTY COFFEE AND COCONUT MAKE BIG SPLASH AT CIIE

SHANGHAI – The Philippines’ food products and island flavors again took center stage at the world’s largest import-themed trade event, as buyers and consumers trooped to the Food Philippines Pavilion at the 5^th China International Import Expo (CIIE) running from 5 to 10 November.

Although fully open from Day 1, Food Philippines was formally inaugurated in simple rites on 06 November. Philippine delegation head Consul General Josel F. Ignacio, Liwayway China Co. Ltd. (Oishi) President Larry Chan, and the guest of honor, Chinese Ministry of Commerce Deputy Director General Ran Deyan did the ribbon-cutting and delivered remarks.

DTI Secretary Alfredo E. Pascual also delivered videotaped greetings, underscoring the Philippines’ presence at the CIIE as a “practical response to opportunity, an imperative to expand our international market”. The Secretary invited Chinese investors to seize opportunities in the Philippines and Chinese traders to ramp up imports, with the country as reliable partner and supplier.

Attesting to Food Philippines’ track record of success at the CIIE, this year’s Pavilion occupied its largest floor space yet at 168 sqm., featuring products from a record 62 Philippine exhibitors.

Philippine specialty coffee made a grand entrance as the Pavilion ran its first-ever coffee nook, where guests tried various brews and cocktails using coffee from the Cordilleras, Northern and Southern Luzon, and Mindanao.

Philippine Coconut was also given its well-deserved spotlight with Food Pavilion devoting almost a third of its space to a Coconut Philippines pavilion dedicated to coconut-derived goods.

For the second straight year, Food Philippines stood side-by-side with the colorful pavilion of Oishi – popularly known in China as Shanghaojia – of PH global food player Liwayway China Co. Ltd.

Cross-exhibit traffic was lively and heavy, as joint promotional activities and games between the two Pavilions enticed throngs of visitors.

Rounding off the Philippine official delegation were Deputy Consul General Marlowe A. Miranda, Consul John Francis S. Herrera, PTIC-Beijing Commercial Counselor Emmanuel Niño W. Ang, CITEM Business Representative Raymond Tan, and DTI-Export Marketing Bureau Specialists Ms. Heizle Trasmañas, Christine Grace C. Victoria, and Raiza A. Caybot. Also in attendance were Consular Attachés Jeannie F. Petrola, Jennifer M. Ranches and Mark Geguera, and Foreign Tourism Officer Warren S. Palacio.

2022 marked the Philippines’ fifth straight participation in the Expo, a centerpiece economic event in Shanghai and indeed China’s annual calendar. In 2021, the Philippines netted over US$ 590 million in purchases at the CIIE. END

Philippine specialty coffee seen adding strength to Philippines-China food trade

SHANGHAI – Philippine specialty coffee is seen adding a new flavor dimension to vibrant Philippines-China trade relations, as local connoisseurs, industry players and enthusiasts sampled Philippine brews at a Coffee Tasting event on November 5.

Hosted by the Philippine government at the Parkyard Hotel in Pudong, the event featured roasted coffee beans and ready-to-brew ground coffee from the Philippines’ Southern Tagalog, Cordillera and Mindanao regions, all well-established coffee producing areas.

The Beijing-based Office of the Philippine Agricultural Counsellor curated the selection of quality coffees in partnership with the Philippine Coffee Guild, Verracoffee, Seven R. Coffee, Café Amadeo Development Cooperative, Hineleben Farms, Project Beans, Gourmet Farms and Equilibrium Curve Coffee.

Guests enjoyed the featured varieties and blends, which were served in espresso, long black, Americano and other styles. Chinese and European coffee connoisseurs and scouts, many of whom were first-timers to Philippine coffee, enthusiastically sampled the brews. Native Filipino rice cakes, fruits and other sweets were served, pairing well with the steaming cupfuls.

 “Our team is delighted to receive very positive ratings and feedback from our guests, especially the connoisseurs, whose inputs we value”, said Consul General Josel F. Ignacio. “We take pride in Philippine coffee and know that it will make big waves in China.”

Agricultural Counselor Ana GM B. Abejuela presided over the event. Joining her and Consul General Ignacio were Deputy Consul General Marlowe A. Miranda, Consul John Francis S. Herrera, PTIC-Shanghai Head Consul Mario C. Tani, Tourism Attaché Ireneo H. Reyes, Assistant Tourism Attaché Warren S. Palacio and CITEM Business Representative Raymond Tan.

Coffee’s history in the Philippines dates back almost 300 years. The Philippines shares with only a few countries the distinction of being able to produce all four types of coffee beans (Arabica, Robusta, Liberica and Excelsa).

Meanwhile, China has grown in prominence and importance as a major coffee market and consumer country, growing over 10% on average year-on-year since 2017, with coffee consumption rising 15% annually. Higher incomes have also raised Chinese coffee drinkers’ standards and appreciation of coffee culture.

Coffee, together with coconut, are being given prominence in the Philippines’ participation in the 5^th China International Import Expo (CIIE) – the world’s biggest import-themed event -- in Shanghai on 5-10 November. END

Ant Group affirms confidence in PH fintech growth, support for local talents

SHANGHAI – Chinese financial technology (fintech) giant Ant Group Co. Ltd. sees strong fintech and e-commerce growth in the Philippines and will continue to support the sector and emerging local talents.

This was the gist of discussions at the Zoom meeting on 27 October between the Philippine country team in Shanghai led by Consul General Josel F. Ignacio, and the Ant Group, represented by Senior Director Jason PAU and Mr. ZHANG Yinfan of the Ant Group. Present at the meeting were Consul John Francis S. Herrera, Philippine Trade and Investment Center Chief Mario C. Tani, and PTIC Assistant Sun Qian.

The Ant Group considers PH “a crucial partner”, having gained success in the country via its stake in GCash and FinTech unicorn Mynt. Ant is also harnessing and developing Filipino talent through fintech training under its 10x1000 Tech for Inclusion training program.

Both sides are currently coordinating on a visit to the Alibaba Campus in Hangzhou by Philippine officials attending the upcoming 5^th China International Import Expo in November.

A subsidiary of the Alibaba Group, the Ant Group develops and owns online payment platforms, most notably Alipay, currently the world’s largest such service. END