PH Consulate General in Chicago Participates in Economic-Trade Visit to South Dakota

Consul Ryan Gener (standing) talks about the Philippines’ economic growth and attractiveness as trade partner and investment destination before government officials, business executives and academic officers at the Leadership Meeting in South Dakota on 24 September 2019. (CITCA photo)

CHICAGO 14 October 2019 – The Philippine Consulate General in Chicago, through Consul Ryan Gener, participated in the Consulates General and Trade Commissioners’ Visit to South Dakota on 23 to 25 September 2019.

Organized by the Chicago International Trade Commissioners’ Association (CITCA), in cooperation with the South Dakota International Trade Center, the delegation was composed of Chicago-based delegates from Bulgaria, Costa Rica, Spain, Belgium (Wallonia), Hong Kong China, and Taipei Economic and Cultural Office.

On 23 September, South Dakota Biotech Executive Director Joni Johnson hosted a welcome briefing for the delegates, local officials and business executives.

On the second day of the visit, the delegates participated in a Leadership Meeting with top local officials, business executives and heads of academic institutions in South Dakota. Among the participants were Sioux Falls Mayor Paul TenHaken, Brookings Mayor Keith Corbett, and South Dakota State University President Barry H. Dunn. In addition, South Dakota Soybean Association Jerry Schmitz presented a social briefing for the delegates and other guests. A networking mixer was also attended by District 9 State Representative Michael P. Saba and various firms.

On 23 to 24 September, the delegation also toured the facilities of Poet, Sanford Health, SAB Biotherapeutics, Avera E-Care, Prairie AquaTech, South Dakota State University, Daktronics, and Raven Industries.

Consul Gener shared the good news about the Philippine economy, in which he highlighted that it has been 20 consecutive years of growth for the country. According to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Philippines will be the fastest growing economy in Southeast Asia in the next five years. He also shared that the Philippines is undertaking a massive $170-billion “Build, Build, Build” infrastructure program. END

Consul Gener (second from right) poses with Daktronics Senior Project Manager for the Asia Pacific Region Matt Lefers (left), Business Development Representative of the Governor’s Office of Economic Development Eric Siemers (third from left), and other trade delegation to South Dakota members. Daktronics is putting up electronic scoreboards for the 2019 Southeast Asian Games in Clark, Philippines (CITCA photo)

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