10 July 2013 - Philippine Ambassador to South Africa Constancio R. Vingno, Jr. reported to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) that Foreign Affairs Undersecretary for International Economic Relations Laura Q. del Rosario undertook a successful working visit to Pretoria from June 27 to July 01 to further promote Philippine economic diplomacy thrusts in South Africa.
Undersecretary del Rosario was accompanied by DFA Special Assistant for International Economic Relations Mark Francis C. Hamoy and DFA Acting Director for African Affairs Jeffrey P. Salik. The Undersecretary likewise brought a small business delegation composed of Mrs. Clara R. Lapus of Mama Sita and Mr. Roland T. Nillas of Leemasters Systems International.
On June 27, shortly after her arrival in Pretoria, Undersecretary del Rosario visited the Embassy premises where a luncheon was prepared to welcome her and her delegation. Afterward, the Undersecretary delivered a lecture on Philippine foreign policy thrusts with regard to South Africa at the University of Pretoria attended by University faculty, members of the academe and think tanks, and the University’s post-graduate Political Science students.
In the evening, the Undersecretary attended a reception organized for her by the Ambassador at the Official Residence. At the reception, Undersecretary del Rosario was able to address over a hundred members of the Pretoria Business Forum, Business Unity South Africa, the Johannesburg Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and the South African Chamber of Commerce and Industry about the business opportunities in the Philippines. The Philippine business delegation members were likewise able to network with interested South African prospective business contacts at the reception.
On June 28, Undersecretary del Rosario visited the offices and factory of Aerosud, a subsidiary of the Paramount Group. The Paramount Group has expressed interest in investing in the Philippine aviation industry and has been in contact with the Philippine Department of National Defense.
Later that day, Undersecretary del Rosario met with South African International Relations and Cooperation Deputy Minister Marius Fransman to discuss the further development of Philippine-South African bilateral relations following the first meeting of the Philippines-South Africa Bilateral Consultative Forum held in Pretoria in January. The discussions ranged from possible agricultural cooperation such as Philippine importation of South African beef and citrus to maritime cooperation, air services and tourism cooperation. Undersecretary del Rosario also informed the Deputy Minister that, due to the interest expressed by South African businesspeople in doing business with Filipino companies, she intends to bring a larger business delegation to South Africa in September.
In the evening of June 28, Undersecretary del Rosario attended a Filipino Food Festival gala dinner held at the Emperors Palace in Johannesburg. The Filipino Food Festival was a project co-sponsored by Mama Sita, Makati Shangri-La Hotel and Emperors Palace to introduce Filipino food to the South African public. Around 200 people attended the gala, where they enjoyed traditional Filipino dishes such as kare-kare, lechon, pancit, tokwa’t baboy and many other delicacies.
On June 30, Undersecretary del Rosario attended the opening of the 2013 South African International Exhibit (SAITEX) in Johannesburg, the largest international exhibition of food and international consumer products in Africa. At that event, the Undersecretary met with officials from the Johannesburg Economic Development Department and informed them that the Philippines would be keen to participate in their future events.
That evening, the Undersecretary was the guest of honor at a formal dinner held at the Official Residence where she, along with the members of the DFA and Philippine business delegation, met the head of the South African National Library Mr. John Tsebe, Vice Chancellor Prof. Cheryl de la Rey of the University of Pretoria, officials from the South African Department of International Relations and Cooperation, Paramount Group representatives and a member of the Filipino community.
Before her departure on July 01, Undersecretary del Rosario thanked Ambassador Vingno and the Embassy for setting up the various activities that have made her working visit to South Africa successful in generating greater interest within the South African business community in doing business with the Philippines. END
