24 April 2015 – The Philippine Consulate General in Manado led by Acting Head of Post Jan Sherwin P. Wenceslao, in coordination with Philippine Trade and Investment Center’s (PTIC) Philippine Commercial Counselor to Indonesia Alma F. Argayoso, organized a Philippine Outbound Business Mission (OBM) to Manado from April 16 to 18.

The highlight of the OBM was the Business Forum on ASEAN Economic Community and business matching session, held on April 17 at Bank Indonesia Manado. The OBM was envisioned to strengthen trade and economic activity between the Philippines and North Sulawesi, raise awareness of opportunities in cross-border/inter-regional trade through the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) and underscore upcoming regional interconnectivity projects, in particular the Likupang/Bitung-General Santos Roll-on/Roll-off (RORO) Passenger and Cargo Shipping Service which is set to launch by Q2 2015.

More than 150 participants from North Sulawesi and surrounding regions in Eastern Indonesia, including VIPs from the provincial government, high-level businessmen, traders, importers and distributors, the academe, media, and the Filipino community participated in the event to meet with the Philippine trade delegation, comprised of senior representatives from Philippine companies:

• Dealo Koffee Klatch Lucban with CEO Miliza Dealo Valde
• Magic Melt Foods, Inc. with Operations Manager Jonathan P. Illana
• Aficionado Fragrances with Senior Sales and Operations Manager Teresita L. Carandang
• Nattural Quality Corporation with President Benson Uy Sian
• Landbank of the Philippines Overseas Representative for Brunei, Malaysia and Indonesia Grace Sausa
• Philippine Franchise Association and Waffle Time, Inc. with Franchise Manager Catherine Joy Palencia
• PTIC Export Group Head Joel Rodriguez
• DTI Export Marketing Bureau (DTI-EMB) represented by Division Chief Rafaelita Castro and Assistant Division Chief Suraida Guro

The Guests of Honor to the event were the Vice Governor of North Sulawesi, Dr. Djouhari Kansil and Deputy Permanent Representative to the Philippine Permanent Mission to ASEAN Noel M. Novicio, who delivered Welcome and Opening Remarks, respectively.

During the course of the Business Forum and Business Matching activity, the Philippine business delegation presented their respective companies and disseminated potential products for trade between the Philippines and North Sulawesi, in particular: food items, fragrances, food supplements, money transfer services and franchising opportunities. The event was also an opportunity to discuss trade regulations and trade-facilitation issues. In particular, Ms. Rafaelita Castro, DTI-EMB held a presentation on the “ASEAN Economic Community: Opportunities and Challenges”. Likewise, North Sulawesi stakeholders also presented: “Doing Business in Indonesia and the Philippines” (by Drs. T. H. Siregar, MSi vice Ir. Jenny Karouw, MSi, Head of the Office of Industry and Trade, DISPRINDAG); “Indonesian Customs Procedures for the Import/Export of Goods” (by Mr. Fitra Krisdianto, Head of Customs Bitung); registration requirements/procedures for food and drugs (by the Office of Food and Drugs, BBPom); and, “Updates on the upcoming Likupang/Bitung-General Santos Roll-on/Roll-off (RORO) Passenger and Cargo Shipping Service” by Mr. Daniel Pesik, Director of PT. Micishden Surya Timur, operator of the RORO vessel

An open forum enabled the OBM participants, the speakers and audience members to engage in further dialogue and discussion. Furthermore, a section of the venue was dedicated for the display of Philippine as well as Indonesian products.  

On April 17, a Fellowship Dinner in honor of the Philippine Delegation was hosted by the Vice Governor and the Provincial Government of North Sulawesi at City Extra restaurant. High-level government officials, businessmen and local stakeholders, as well as the Philippine delegation, Filipino community and the officer and personnel of Manado PCG were present in the dinner.

During the course of the dinner, Vice Governor Dr. Djouhari Kansil conveyed his government’s full support of future business delegations and potential bilateral projects/initiatives between the North Sulawesi and the Philippines, as well as the government’s hope for greater trade, business and commercial activities between the Philippines and North Sulawesi. On behalf of the Philippine side, Deputy Permanent Representative of the Philippine Mission to ASEAN Noel M. Novicio thanked the Vice Governor for the hospitality afforded to the Philippine delegation and the support provided for the Business Forum and Business Matching activity.

On April 18, the Philippine trade delegation conducted trade checks on major wholesale and retail establishments in Manado City’s central business district. Vice Consul Jan Sherwin P. Wenceslao fetted the visiting trade delegation in a farewell luncheon together with Deputy Permanent Representative Noel M. Novicio at Wahaha Restaurant, Megamas Manado, prior to the delegation’s return to the Philippines via Jakarta. END