Department of Trade and Industry
Release Date: 9 November 2017
A Calabarzon delegation will embark on a trade and business mission from 12 November 12 to December 02, 2017 to explore joint ventures and market arrangements. It will also seek to strengthen business tie-ups and linkages towards business opportunities for Calabarzon enterprises.
Regional Director Marilou Q. Toledo of the Department of Trade and Industry in Calabarzon will lead the 20-day business mission.
The delegation is composed of selected micro, small and medium entrepreneurs (MSME) along with officials and representatives of the municipal government of Alabat, Quezon, the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), and DTI’s Provincial Office in Laguna.
The group will actively engage in exploratory networking activities for possible future joint ventures and market arrangements and in strengthening business tie-ups/network linkages towards business opportunities through the B2B meetings, market outlet visits and business matching sessions.
On top of the networking activities, the mission hopes to participate in learning sessions.
“I am hopeful that this mission will equip our MSMEs at the same time provide better opportunities for market linkages, business networking and know market trends and innovative product developments in these lucrative markets”, Toledo said.
During the 20-day mission, a mini-exhibit featuring CALABARZON’s banner products will be mounted at the Philippine Consulate in Toronto. At the same time, a business forum will be held to be attended by about 80 members of the Canada-Philippines Chamber of Commerce.
The Canadian leg coincides with CESO’s invitation for Toledo to grace its 50th anniversary celebration as a distinguished institutional partner in strengthening MSMSEs in the region.
“This trip to Canada is built on the long-held strategic partnership with the Canadian Executive Service Organization (CESO), one of Canada’s leading volunteer-based development organizations”, Toledo said.
At the CESO anniversary event, Toledo will deliver her speech that will highlight the strong, over-a-decade partnership to help in the coaching, mentoring and consultancy assistances for MSMEs through the institutionalization of the BEAMS: Building Entrepreneurs through Advisory and Mentoring Services. The BEAMS program will tap local or home-grown experts, coaches, and mentors to assist in the shared service facilities (SSF) project and its co-operators as its initial focus.
Toledo will be joined by Alabat, Quezon Mayor Fernando Mesa who will also deliver a message at the event.
As a strategic partner, the DTI Calabarzon has forged collaboration with CESO to continuously capacitate and equip the Calabarzon MSMEs in their respective business operations.
DTI Calabarzon has been one of CESO’s strongest and most successful partners that produced very positive results in strengthening MSMEs in the Philippines”, RD Toledo emphasized.
“I am deeply privileged and honoured to participate in CESO’s 50th anniversary celebration in Toronto”, RD Toledo added.
To pave the way for the mission, DTI last month initiated a workshop to prime up prospective participants on their readiness to export and penetrate the Canadian market.
The government side of the mission will be composed of DTI Regional Director Marilou Toledo, head of delegation; Director Susan Palo and Laura Jaraplasan DTI’s Laguna Provincial Office; Regional Director Alex R. Madrigal and Assistant Regional Director Lydia S. Manguiat of DOST; and Vermielyn Ortiz of the Philippine Coconut Research and Development Foundation (PCRDF).
Representatives of Amstature Foods (noodle products), Terra Vida Agri-Ventures (turmeric products), and Escaba Food Products (tropical fruit preserves) form part of the entrepreneurs that will for the Canadian Leg while the USA East Coast Leg will be composed of Escaba Food Products, BlueMacay Food Manufacturing Inc. (food ingredients), and Terra Vida Agri-Ventures.
Enterprises were selected based on their exhibited capabilities and potentials to expand operations beyond the domestic market and have undergone the branding and brand development seminar.
Joined by DOST, the delegation will also explore on the marketability of macapuno-derived products, e.g., macapuno powder, as food ingredient.
Business meetings and other exploratory activities are coordinated with the CESO officials, both Canada and Philippine-based, between the Philippine Trade and Investment Centers (PTICs) through Senior Trade Commissioner Ma. Roseni Alvero (DTI Foreign Trade Service Corps, PTIC-Canada), Nicanor Bautista, Commercial Counselor of PTIC-New York, and the Philippine Consulate General in Toronto, led by Consul General Rosalita Prospero.
Toledo emphasized that DTI has consistently faced challenges to develop stronger MSMEs in CALABARZON, along with the constant push on them to go beyond the local market.
“Bringing our entrepreneurs to an outbound trade and business mission is not new to our region. Venturing out into the global arena through innovative and globally-competitive goods and services, we in Calabarzon will now pave further market inroads to Canada and the US”, RD Toledo persistently declared.