A Business-to-Business (B2B) meeting with a trade delegation from the Philippines was organised by the Department of Trade and Industry’s Export Marketing Bureau in Partnership with Philippines Trade and Investment Center (PTIC), New Delhi. The meeting was held in Mumbai with the objective of interacting and exploring various trade and investment opportunities in both countries thereby strengthening bilateral relations. The trade delegation had representatives from healthy beverages and wellness products; glow juice; guyabano juice; MCT oil; VCO; coco jam; sugar; camote chips; consumer healthcare and personal care products; snacks and other food products; trade associations and Government of Philippines. MVIRDC World Trade Center Mumbai participated in the meeting.

H. E. Mr. Ramon S. Bagatsing Jr., Ambassador, Embassy of Philippines in India was the Chief Guest for this programme. H. E. Mr. Bagatsing Jr. apprised that Philippines and India had signed trade agreements in field of tourism, defense, agriculture and related fields. The Philippines is moving to expand the reach of its products, setting its sights on South Asia, Central Asia, Africa and Eastern Europe. The government has been setting outbound business matching missions (OBMM) with countries where it has trade potential. H. E. Mr. Bagatsing Jr. also mentioned that the Philippines government was scheduling more OBMM sessions in India, Bangladesh, Russia, Egypt and Ethiopia. “These markets were chosen based on the country’s economic growth, gross domestic product per capita, population, ease of doing business, political climate, and Philippines’ trade and foreign policy directives,” H. E. Mr. Bagatsing added.

Mr. Jeremiah C. Reyes, Commercial Attaché from Philippines Embassy said that due to decreasing farmlands, Philippines is dependent on food imports. Indian companies can look for business opportunities in Philippines in cacao, coffee, mangoes, bananas, coconuts, rubber, bamboo, fruits and nuts, palm oil and other high-value crops.

Mr. Vijay Kalantri, Vice Chairman, MVIRDC World Trade Center Mumbai said that Philippine companies can explore business opportunities in the food processing sector in India. While, Indian companies can look for business opportunities in generics, medical equipment, vaccine, OTC, oncology and high end medicines, herbal medicines, among others.

Mr. Kalantri highlighted that WTC Mumbai and Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry had signed an MOU in July 2017 for enhancing mutual trade and investment between the two regions.

Companies from the Philippine delegation made presentations on their products and services to Indian companies.

In Photo:

H. E. Mr. Ramon S. Bagatsing Jr. felicitated by Mr. Vijay Kalantri.