MANILA -- The country’s delegation to the China International Import Expo (CIIE) still aims to get at least 100 booths for the buying event in Shanghai in November.
International Chamber of Commerce Philippines (ICCP) founder and Philippine Chamber of Commerce Industry (PCCI) chairman emeritus Francis Chua said the Philippine delegation only ended up with two booths out of 150 booths they tried to book for the event.
“Only two booths were left for the Philippines and the rest [of the delegation] in the common area,” Chua told reporters.
He said the first CIIE received so much attention, resulting in overbooking by interested participants.
Chua said Shanghai has many facilities where the CIIE floor area can be expanded, to accommodate additional exporters seeking a way into the Chinese market through the November expo.
He mentioned that 30 out of the 99 parties seeking to join the CIIE have already paid for their booth.
He added that the Philippine and Chinese governments, through their trade offices, have to work out and address this problem.
“This could be a missed opportunity, that’s why we have to be there,” Chua stressed.
The CIIE will only host foreign enterprises seeking to sell to the Chinese market but Chinese manufacturers are not allowed to join the expo.
Around 150,000 Chinese buyers are expected to visit the expo, scouting for potential partners to bring their products and services to China.
This is part of the Chinese government’s initiative to import some USD5 trillion worth of goods and services worldwide within a five-year period. (PNA)
