Robust PH-Victoria Economic Engagement Highlighted PH Ambassador Visit

Philippine Ambassador to Australia Ma. Hellen B. De La Vega (right) visits the operations of the Victoria International Container Terminal (VICT) at the Port of Melbourne on 21 August 2019. VICT is a subsidiary of the Filipino company International Container Terminal Services Incorporated (ICTSI) and is a major Filipino investment in Australia. (Canberra PE photo)

VICTORIA 12 September 2019 – In a recent visit to Victoria, Philippine Ambassador to Australia Ma. Hellen B. De La Vega emphasized with stakeholders of the said south-eastern state stronger economic engagement with the Philippines.

From 19 to 21 August 2019, Ambassador De La Vega met with various business groups, including the Australia Philippines Business Council (APBC) and the Victoria International Container Terminal (VICT). APBC comprises importers of Filipino food products and other allied industries, while VICT is a subsidiary a Filipino company, the International Container Terminal Services Incorporated (ICTSI).

Ambassador De La Vega noted that Philippine food and beverages have a ready market with Australia’s Filipino and Asian population and emphasized the potential for Philippine products to make it to the mainstream market. Woolworths, one of the top two grocery chains in Australia, is reported to have been carrying Filipino food products in its Caroline Springs branch.

The APBC members and some interested business groups, after being briefed on economic developments in the Philippines, including the potential opportunities brought by the enactment of the Philippine Innovation Act and Philippine Startup Act, expressed great interest in learning more about Philippine government’s support and incentives schemes for foreign investors, particularly in the digital sector. 

Ambassador De La Vega’s visit in Victoria was concluded with a tour of VICT, Australia’s first fully automated container terminal. She expressed pride in the ICTSI investment which is a testament to the capability of Filipino companies to compete globally. The Ambassador also held discussions on VICT expansion plans and the work VICT is undertaking with the Manila International Container Terminal. END

 Ambassador De La Vega (sixth from right) briefs the Australian Philippine Business Council and interested business groups on economic developments in the Philippines on 20 August 2019. (Canberra PE photo)

 Ambassador Hellen B. De La Vega (in white Filipiniana top) and Philippine Honorary Consul to Victoria Felix Pintado (sixth from left) meet with the importers of Filipino food products and allied industries for a roundtable discussion on 19 August 2019. Entrée Pinay provided a merienda of Filipino food to showcase the potential of Filipino food in Victoria. (Canberra PE photo)

For more information, visit https://www.philembassy.org.au or https://www.facebook.com/PHinAustralia/.