Philippines is “First Stop” of Taizhou City’s “Entering RCEP Countries” Conference Series

Philippine Officials virtually engage Taizhou enterprises at “Entering RCEP Countries” Series: clockwise from top center: PTIC Chief Tani, BOI ExDir Cagatan, FTSC ASec. Peñaranda, DTI ASec, Gepty, Consul General Ignacio. (Shanghai PCG photo)

SHANGHAI 18 July 2022 – The Philippines became the first country to be featured in Taizhou City’s hybrid Conference Series on “Entering RCEP Countries” hosted by the respective municipal committees of the Communist Party of China and the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT) on 04 July 2022 at the Taizhou Phoenix Villa Hotel.

The series seeks to “enhance friendly communication and strengthen contact”, trade and investment links between Taizhou and RCEP member countries.

The Philippines was represented by Philippine Consul General to Shanghai Josel F. Ignacio, DTI Assistant Secretary Allan B. Gepty, DTI Foreign Trade Service Corps Assistant Secretary Glenn G. Peñaranda, BOI Executive Director Evariste M. Cagatan, and PTIC-Shanghai Commercial Vice Consul Mario C. Tani.

Leading Taizhou’s municipal and business leaders were Ms. Zhu Xiuxiang of the Taizhou Municipal Party Committee Standing Committee, CCPIT-Zhejiang Vice Chair Mr. Zhang Qingshan, CCPIT-Taizhou Chair Mr. Jin Zhiwei, and Taizhou Association (Chamber Of Commerce) of the Philippines Chair Ms. Zhang Hongyang.

“That the Philippines is the ‘first stop’ of this series, even as we have yet to ratify RCEP, speaks highly of Chinese business’ confidence in the country,” commented Consul General Ignacio. “The Philippines should be your ‘first and last stop’”, he urged the audience.

Taizhou, a major player in China’s automobile, manufacturing and trade, is touted as one of the cradles of China’s private economy, with over 99% of players private. Companies represented at the Forum included Jack Technology Co., Ltd. (sewing machines), Zhejiang Crystal Optoelectronics Technology Co., Ltd. (optical components), Zhejiang Hisoar Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. (active pharmaceutical ingredients), Zhejiang Era Co., Ltd. (pipes and piping systems), Zhejiang China-Africa International Economic and Trade Port Service Co., Ltd. (business consultancy services), Taizhou Sanyuan Vehicle Purifier Co., Ltd. (automobile catalysts), Lutian Machinery Co., Ltd (general power machinery/washers), Zhejiang Chaoqian Telecommunication Technologies Co. Ltd. (optical transport network), Zhejiang Dayuan Pump Co., Ltd. (electric pumps), Zhejiang Maqi Sewing Machine Co., Ltd. (sewing machines), Taizhou Fengtian Spraying Machine Co., Ltd. (garden machinery), Zhejiang Huangyan Dafu Plastic Co., Ltd. (plastics), Taizhou World Postman E-commerce Co., Ltd. (e-commerce), Haosilu International Trade Service (Taizhou) Co., Ltd. (international trading), and Taizhou Zhujing Trade Co., Ltd. (international trading).

Assistant Secretary Gepty and Executive Director Cagatan fielded questions from several company representatives on doing business in the Philippines, investment incentives and trade procedures, and industry- and sector-specific concerns.

The Philippine Consulate General and PTIC-Shanghai have vowed to aggressively pursue the business leads generated by the event. END

For more information, visit http://shanghaipcg.dfa.gov.ph/.