Filipino Community in Jeddah Briefed by Visiting PH Trade Officials and Private Businesses

Trade and Industry Undersecretary Abdulgani Macatoman stresses the importance of the “7Ms” in setting up a business and becoming a smart entrepreneur to members of the Filipino Community in Jeddah. (Jeddah PCG photo)

JEDDAH 18 February 2019 — Members of the Filipino Community in Jeddah received helpful information on basic exporting and doing business in the Philippines from visiting Philippine trade officials, led by Trade and Industry Undersecretary Abdulgani Macatoman and private business representatives, at a seminar held at the Philippine Consulate General in Jeddah’s conference hall on 10 February 2019.

In his keynote address, Undersecretary Macatoman spoke about “7Ms” to help ordinary Filipinos set-up a business and be a smart entrepreneur. Undersecretary Macatoman said that while all the 7Ms are equally important, “mindset change is the most crucial.”

Rosemarie G. Castillo of the Department of Trade and Industry’s Export Marketing Bureau gave step-by-step pointers on importing and exporting.

Agriculture Attaché to the United Arab Emirates Gil B. Herico shared some possible business ventures in the Philippines. His presentation resonated with many of the attendees, who said they plan to go into agriculture when they return to the Philippines for good.

The seminar was capped by back-to-back testimonials from Mr. Aris M. Unison, whose company manufactures various types of sauces, and Mr. Henry Raca, who started a beauty products business with a P250,000 capital.

They shared their personal experiences, the adversities they faced, and the successes they soon reaped both in the domestic and export market. Their testimonials proved that persistence is still the key to reap the fruits of one’s labor.

The attendees were given a chance to ask questions and seek answers to some of their apprehensions, all of which were answered by the visiting Philippine delegation as the seminar concluded. They visibly found solace in knowing that the future of their enterprise can only go upward with the knowledge they have gained from the seminar and similar capacity-building government programs. END

For more information, visit www.jeddahpcg.dfa.gov.ph or https://www.facebook.com/PHLinJeddah/.

Members of the Filipino Community Jeddah receive helpful tips on doing business and exporting from the visiting Philippine delegation. (Jeddah PCG photo)