THE Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) said it is pushing to expand exports to China in the wake of growing demand, as reflected in robust Philippine participation in Chinese trade shows.
Undersecretary for the Trade and Investments Promotion Group Nora K. Terrado said sales are growing year-on-year in Chinese trade shows particularly at five major events, which reflect favorable market conditions for Philippine exporters.
“[China’s] the newest and largest export market. It’s very near,” Ms. Terrado told reporters last week in Makati City.
This week, the Philippines is expected to sign orders amounting to a “big haul” at the three-day 15th China-ASEAN exposition in Nanning in southern China.
“My fear is that on day one the goods our exporters will have on display may sell out,” she said.
Starting on Sept. 12, the trade show is co-sponsored by the governments of China and the 10 ASEAN member-states as well as the ASEAN Secretariat.
It is organized by the government of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.
Ms. Terrado said that the DTI receives a number of trade show invitations from China each year but to maximize the impact on exporters, the DTI tends to select state-sponsored events with regional focus.
The next major trade event to be held in China which the Philippines will be joining, is the first China International Import Expo (CIIE) to be held in Shanghai.
The CIIE, with a total exhibition area of over 240,000 square meters, will be held from Nov. 5-10.
Earlier, the Philippines’ participation in the trade expo hit a snag after an official from the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry revealed that Philippine participants managed to secure only two booths, far from the 150 booths pre-booked.
However, Ms. Terrado said the finalized “raw space” allocated for the Philippines may now accommodate some 40 to 60 companies which is still far less than the 100 or so exporters who expressed interest in joining the show.
“If we cannot accommodate them in the trade exposition, we can do a trade investment [forum],” Ms. Terrado said.
The Philippines is pushing to export processed and fresh food products and lifestyle or fashion pieces, among other items, to China, she added. — Janina C. Lim
