07 November 2013 – Eighteen (18) Filipino businessmen and exporters comprising the Philippine Outbound Business Mission (OBM) on Food and Cosmetics to the Middle East held one-on-one and business matching meetings with Kuwaiti businessmen and importers during their sales mission to Kuwait from October 28 to 30. 

Ten (10) Philippine companies participated in the outbound business mission to Kuwait, namely, Amarich Marketing International, DoXo Trading, Fisher Farms Inc., Florence Foods/Pixcel Transglobal, GCB Food Products, Kwality PhilFood, Inc., Lubi Integrated Farming Ent. Inc., Mica by the Sea, Nutramedica and Refinette Corporation.  Former DTI Undersecretary and now CEO of Fisher Farms, Inc.

Imelda Madarang, who had spearheaded a number of similar missions to the Middle East in recent years, led the OBM delegation in their meetings with Kuwaiti businessmen, wholesalers and retailers in exploring market opportunities for Philippine food, cosmetics and wellness products in Kuwait.  

On October 29, the business delegation conducted back-to-back meetings/business matching with about 40 Kuwaiti importers, distributors and retailers at the Costa Del Sol Hotel where samples of Philippine products were on display for the duration of the mission.

First-time OBM participants were encouraged by the positive outcome of their meetings with Kuwaiti businessmen, as sales deals were concluded with them during the matching sessions.

The delegation noted the openness of Kuwaiti importers in trying out new products and services for the local consumers.  Many of the participants already indicated their keen interest to participate in a follow-up OBM which Mrs. Madarang plans to undertake in the coming months.

Philippine Embassy in Kuwait Charge d’ Affaires Lamberto V. Monsanto, who joined the OBM participants at the Costa del Sol Hotel on October 29, gave them some insights on the nature and peculiarities of the Middle East market and on how to penetrate the Kuwaiti market and make their products competitive in the region. 

The visiting business delegation also conducted market sensing at various supermarkets and stores selling Philippine products in Kuwait on October 30.  The group was welcomed by the General and Store Managers of Lulu Hypermarket, Ambassador Supermarket and Philippine Beauty in separate visits.

 
The outbound business mission was organized by the Philippine Bureau of Export Trade Promotions (BETP) through the Foreign Trade Service Corps (FTSC) of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), in coordination with the Philippine Embassy in Kuwait.  The business delegation was headed by Mr. Paisal D. Abdullah, the Dubai-based Philippine Commercial Counselor for Middle East and Africa (based in Dubai), and the OBM Coordinator Grace Llaneta-Demdam of BETP, Manila. END