ILOILO CITY -- A delegation here will represent the Philippines in the 5th China (Quanzhou) Maritime Silk Road International Brand Expo (MSREXPO) at the Shishi Clothing City Exhibition Art Center in Fujian, China on April 18-21.
Ritchel Gavan, Iloilo City local economic and investment promotions officer (LEIPO), said the city’s joining the MSREXPO will be its first engagement since signing a letter of intent to establish and strengthen a friendly relationship with Quanzhou City in 2018.
“This is the first time that the Philippines is joining the expo and Iloilo City will be participating and representing the Philippines,” she said.
There will be five booths for the Iloilo delegations, which will display food products, such as butterscotch delicacies, turmeric, and products of Balai Tablea; hablon (handwoven textile) creations of Jackie Peñalosa; Balai Hablon of Girlie Flores; creations of Hector Gellangarin; and the handcrafted lace and embroidery of the Women United Through Handcrafted Lace and Embroidery (WHUTLE).
She said the selection of products to be exhibited went through a rigorous process. They partnered with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to make sure that the products can already be marketed globally.
“We wanted to make sure that the products we brought there are also unique. We hope that being part of the products to be displayed there, we will also have our separate market,” said Lea Lara, executive director of the Iloilo Business Club (IBC).
Aside from the products, Lara said the event will also serve as benchmarking because it is the first time for Iloilo to participate after the city and province of Iloilo have “significantly developed”.
“We would like to also showcase how we fare in development, how products are being marketed. We are positioning ourselves as MICE (meetings, incentives, conventions, exhibits) so we would like to see how it is being handled especially with international guests,” she added.
Since Quanzhou is an old city and a port city like Iloilo City, Lara said they would like to see how it was able to shape its local economy from being an old city to one of the industrial cities in China.
Gavan said the delegation is composed of three groups. The first group comprises Iloilo City Mayor Jose Espinosa III, Ramon Cua Locsin of the Filipino- Chinese Chamber of Commerce Panay, Inc.; Atty. Jobert Peñaflorida, president of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) Iloilo; Luna Belaong from the Iloilo provincial government, Lara from IBC and a representative from the DTI.
The exhibitors will compose the second group while the third group is made up of the private sector, namely Alma May Tayo and Fulbert Woo from the Iloilo City Trade and Investment Promotions Board and Marites Lim from the PCCI.
The MSREXPO, which is hosted by the China Chamber of International Commerce, attracts over 300 exhibitors and more than 20,000 professional buyers from over 40 countries and regions worldwide.
The exhibits range from textiles and fabrics, clothing and related materials, daily goods, tourism and cultural products, special food and tea culture, and high-end equipment, among others. (PNA)
