14 March 2017 SEOUL –Philippine Ambassador to Korea Raul S. Hernandez met with the top officials of the Korea Importers Association (KOIMA) in Seoul on March 09 and encouraged them to import more goods and services from the Philippines.

Ambassador Hernandez, who was accompanied by Commercial Counsellor Mr. Emmanuel Ang and Agriculture Attaché Ms. Aleli Maghirang, met with KOIMA Chairman Mr. Shin Myoung-jin and KOIMA executive Vice Chairman Kim Hyun-myung at the KOIMA headquarters

Chairman Shin and Ambassador Hernandez reaffirmed the continued cooperation between KOIMA and the Philippine Embassy in Seoul, towards increased bilateral trade between the Philippines and Korea.

Ambassador Hernandez invited KOIMA to send a buyer delegation to the Philippines. Chairman Shin responded that a visit may be possible next year.

KOIMA undertakes only three to five overseas buying missions every year. The last buying delegation from KOIMA to the Philippines was in 2013. Both sides look forward to the prospect of a trade mission to Manila on 2018.

Ambassador Hernandez also discussed the possibility of an MOU between KOIMA and a Philippine private sector organization, for increased cooperation in business matching and trade facilitation.

KOIMA is Korea’s only private organization exclusively dedicated to facilitating imports into Korea to develop its industry, with more than 8,500 members importing a diverse range of products. END