The Philippines was featured as Guest Country of Honor (GCH) at the 2020 China International Fair for Investment and Trade (CIFIT) held at the Xiamen International Conference and Exhibition Center in Xiamen, China from 08 to 11 September 2020.
In view of travel restrictions, COVID-19 was held both offline and online. Sponsored by the Alibaba Group of Companies, an online CIFIT edition is being made available all year round.
The Philippines took center stage as it spearheaded and organized the Philippine Investment Forum with such speakers as Trade and Industry Secretary Ramon Lopez, Board of Investments Undersecretary Ceferino Rodolfo, BCDA President and CEO Vivencio Dizon and Philippine Embassy in Beijing Agriculture Counselor Ana Gracia Abejuela. Aboitiz Equity Ventures, BDO Unibank Inc., Megaworld International and the Science Park of the Philippines presented ongoing projects and partnership possibilities while BYD Auto Industry shared its experience of doing business in the Philippines. Some of the above speeches/presentations mentioned were rendered via online platforms.
Representatives of four Chinese companies held round table discussions with some members of the Philippine delegation while another ten companies engaged in one-on-one meetings with either Secretary Lopez or Undersecretary Rodolfo.
Partner Philippines Forums were held to encourage Chinese investors and business people to do business in the Philippines. One of the forums was on Industrial Parks with the Philippines Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) and 86 Links via Webinar. The second Partner Philippines Forum was on Agriculture, the 2nd Philippines-China Seminar on Agricultural Investment Cooperation.
DTI’s Secretary Lopez had the opportunity to address several Chinese government officials, business people, scholars, students, and media people during the International Investment Forum (IIF), the keynote forum of CIFIT. Secretary Lopez stressed the strong economic fundamentals of the Philippines and the sincere efforts of the government to further strengthen trade and business relationship with China as good reasons to invest in the Philippines.
The new international marketing campaign strategy of the Philippines called “Make It Happen in the Philippines” was launched during the International Fair.
Philippine Ambassador to China Jose Santiago L. Sta. Romana led the Philippine delegation. Others in the delegation were Philippine Consul General in Xiamen Acting Head of Post Vice-Consul Elaine Mae V. Laruan-Hernandez, Philippine Embassy in Beijing Consul Dean Winston Almeda, Philippine Embassy in Beijing Special Trade Representative (STR) Glenn Peñaranda, Philippine Consulate General in Guangzhou STR of Mr. John Paul Iñigo, Philippine Consulate General in Shanghai Trade Representative Mario Tani, Philippine Embassy in Beijing Agriculture Counsellor Ana Maria Gracia Abejuela and other officials from the Philippine Consulate General in Xiamen. STR Iñigo is the designated lead person of the Philippine participation.
As GCH, the Philippines occupied a 400-sqm pavilion in the center of the Xiamen International Convention and Exhibition Center at its offline edition.
CIFIT Online will also feature a Philippine booth as GCH.
As agreed by the Philippines and the CIFIT organizers, the Philippines will also be GCH for 2021.
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For more information, visit https://www.xiamenpcg.dfa.gov.ph.
