THE Trade department’s export promotion arm is targeting $16.25 million in sales in its first two international trade events this year.
Five Philippine food companies will exhibit their goods at virtual organic food event Biofach in Germany this month, while 13 will participate in the hybrid physical and digital Gulfood Hotel and Equipment Exhibition and Salon Culinaire in Dubai.
The Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions (CITEM) said in an e-mail that the Philippine delegation targets $8.5 million in export sales at the Biofach event and $7.750 million at the Gulfood event.
Last year, the Philippines collected $36.37 million at Biofach, exceeding its $10.37-million target. Participants at Gulfood 2020 earned $102.6 million in export sales.
This puts the 2021 target at 88% lower than the $138.97 million generated at the physical pre-pandemic events last year.
CITEM in May last year urged exporters to explore online channels after trade shows were cancelled due to the ongoing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Since the lockdown, CITEM has joined four international shows either in digital or hybrid formats.
Philippine businesses at the China International Import Expo in November received $6.17 million in onsite booked sales and $455,689 in export commitments.
CITEM Executive Director Pauline Suaco-Juan in a statement said that the agency is migrating its processes to digital.
“The digital format opens you up to a bigger portion of the world rather than just people who physically go to the trade shows. As we know, sourcing now, because of digital, is enabled 365 days of the year, 24/7. And it’s good for our products to be searchable online,” she said.
Gulfood physical exhibits, for example, will have QR codes that will lead potential buyers to the inbox of Philippine exhibitors. — Jenina P. Ibañez
