03 November 2016 — The Philippine Embassy in Warsaw participated for the second time in the Asia Trade “Know-How” 2016 Congress held in Ostroda, Poland from September 22 to 24. Asia Trade Know-How is a business event that features both trade fair and conference with a mission to enhance trade relations between Poland and Asian countries. This year’s exhibitors are leading Polish companies from the chemical, engineering, iron and steel industries.
In her brief remarks, Ambassador Patricia Ann V. Paez stressed that the Philippines is the biggest and fastest-growing economy in Southeast Asia with a GDP growth rate of 7% in the 2nd quarter of 2016. She also informed the audience about the positive implications of the creation of an ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) last December 2015 for Polish entrepreneurs and urged them to locate their production facilities in the Philippines. Ambassador Paez enumerated the fiscal and non-fiscal incentives if they locate their businesses in any of the 345 Special Economic Zones (SEZ) which are being managed by the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA).
Mr. Antonio Alcazar III, Consultant of EU-Philippines Business Network (EPBN), delivered a PowerPoint presentation on EPBN and cited the Philippines’ competitive edge as an investment destination and the investment opportunities in the different industries or sectors in the Philippines. Videos about the Philippines were also shown.
The Embassy gave away information materials such as the “Invest Philippines” kits, brochures of “Doing Business in the Philippines,” EMB Services, IFEX Philippines, Manila Fame, Business Beyond Border magazine, CDs of Directory of PH Exporters and flyers promoting VuQo, San Miguel Beer and Mama Sita’s products and provided contact information for those Philippine products for interested importers.
The Embassy also promoted Philippine tourism by featuring selected tourist destinations in its booth and by distributing the Polish version of “It’s More Fun in the Philippines” brochures and bags. It promoted Philippine products specifically Philippine dried mangoes, San Miguel beer, Vuqo and Mama Sita’s products. The Embassy also offered sampling of VuQo vodka and dried mangoes during the 3-day event.
During the evening banquet and Asian Festival of Culture, Mr. Olly Louie Castillo, founder and choreographer of the Mabuhay Folk Dance paired with Ms. Mary Rose Templanza in performing the Tinikling and Cariñosa dances which provided a big boost to the embassy’s cultural diplomacy campaign.
The Philippine booth was visited by approximately over 600 people with inquiries on the country’s export and import procedures. END
