PHL Embassy in Pretoria, DTI Spot Business Prospects in South Africa
Ambassador Joseph Gerard B. Angeles and Madam Cecilia Angeles hosted a braai at the Ambassador’s Residence on June 26 in Pretoria for the DTI-led Market Opportunity Mapping Mission to South Africa.
06 July 2017 – The Philippine Embassy in Pretoria collaborated with the DTI-Export Marketing Bureau to conduct a Market Opportunity Mapping Mission to South Africa from June 25 to July 04. The mission aimed to explore trade prospects with South Africa, which is seen as one of the world’s emerging markets, and a gateway to the Southern African region.
The delegation was led by DTI-Export Marketing Bureau Director Senen Perlada and was composed of businessmen from nine Philippine companies: 1) Aficionado Perfume and Personal Care Products; 2) EMB Natures Manufacturing Corp. / Rizal VCO; 3) Mama Tina Pasta Co.; 4) Monde M.Y. San Corp.; 5) Nattural Quality Corp.; 6) Nisco Phils. Enterprises; 7) Pasciolco Agri Ventures; 8) Phina Global Investments; and 9) REBISCO.
The mission visited the South Africa International Trade Exhibition on June 25 to survey the products and services in the South African market, with a preliminary focus on Gauteng province – the economic hub of South Africa.
One-on-one business matching meetings between the Philippine businessmen and members of the Johannesburg Chamber of Commerce and Industry took place at the Gallagher Convention Centre in Johannesburg on June 26.
The delegation listened to presentations from the Mpumalanga Economic Growth Agency and the North West Provincial Government, which provided a picture of the economic, trade, and investment opportunities in those regions. These provinces highlighted their proximity to South Africa’s borders with Mozambique and Bostwana, respectively, inviting opportunities towards those areas.
The Philippine Embassy accompanied the delegation in their visit to the Liwayway Foods South Africa factory near Pretoria. Liwayway Operations Manager, Mr. Michael Hui explained their company’s strategic choice to put up a factory in Gauteng because of the province’s central geographic location in South Africa, not to mention that it is the country’s commercial hub.
The Embassy also assisted the delegation in conducting store checks in the large retail supermarkets of Johannesburg: Checkers, Woolworths, Game, Shoprite, and Makro where they gained insight into the various consumer goods bought and sold by South Africans of various social strata.
The delegation the factory of Liwayway Food South Africa.
On June 28, the delegation travelled to Durban where they were met by Consul Akash Singh, a.h. and assisted in their meeting with the Durban Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
The delegation travelled to Cape Town the following day and met the following day with Ambassador Joseph Gerard B. Angeles, Consul General Steven Chaimowitz, a.h. and Wesgro – the trade and investment promotion agency of the Western Cape. Wesgro provided the delegation with a business picture of the Western Cape, and shared potentials for trade and investment in their region. The remaining days were devoted to one-on-one business meetings, store checks and other business environment scanning activities.
The Market Opportunity Mapping Mission generated various potential leads for the Philippine businessmen to pursue in South Africa. To this end, the Philippine Embassy hopes for more missions like this in the future, and recommended for the reinstatement in South Africa of a Philippine trade/commercial attaché. END
Media interview of DTI-Export Marketing Bureau Director Senen Perlada.