11 April 2016- Philippine-Malaysia economic ties received a big boost when a Business Opportunity Seminar and Business Matching was conducted by PHILMAL International Sdn Bhd in Kuala Lumpur, in cooperation with the Philippine Embassy in Kuala Lumpur and Philippine Trade and Investment Center (PTIC-KL).
Some 100 participants composed of SMEs and large companies from the Philippines and Malaysia attended the event at the Menara MATRADE on March 31.
“There are enormous opportunities for Malaysian businessmen and women to look next door to the Philippines, in particular Mindanao, as their next preferred trade and investment destination,” Philippine Ambassador to Malaysia J. Eduardo Malaya said.
“We invite Malaysian companies to explore opportunities in the halal market, agribusiness, infrastructure and tourism services,” Malaya added. A halal hub has been established in the city of Zamboanga in Mindanao, among others, while there are rich prospects in agribusiness, especially for Malaysian oil palm plantation companies.
Former Malaysian Ambassador to the Philippines Dato’ Mohd Zamri Bin Mohd Kassim echoed the same sentiment: “Now is the best time to invest in the Philippines. The country has all the attributes for (economic) success.”
The seminar and business matching is the first project of PHILMAL International Sdn Bhd, a marketing and investment company that focuses on organizing trade shows and seminars dedicated in promoting and trading halal and other products between Malaysia and Philippines. It is led by its Chairman Dato’ Simon David Leong and Managing Director Dato’ Ahmad Firdaus Wan Teh.
As of December 2015, Malaysia was the Philippines’ 10th largest trading partner, with total trade amounting to US$271.50 million. Philippine exports to Malaysia are valued at US$ 111.75 million, and imports are valued at US$159.75 million.
Also present at the event were officials of the Malay Traders and Entrepreneurs Association of Malaysia (PERDASAMA), Philippine Department of Trade and Industry, Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE), and members of the media.
Companies comprising the Philippine delegation were Alter Trade Corporation (muscovado sugar), Ecopax Trading (dishwashing liquid, brewed turmeric), Fruits of Life Inc. (coco water), Hananel General Merchandise (packaging services), Mama Tina Pasta Company Inc. (pasta Amigo, La Filipina, Mama Tina, Mama Tina Tolling pasta), Philippine Leading Infinite Logistics Inc. (Amigo Segurado pasta, sugar, Frito crunch frying mix), Profood International Corporation (dried tropical, tropical food preserve, aseptically processed fruit purees and concentrates, ready-to-drink juice and nectars, canned tropical fruits, jam jellies and puddings, frozen tropical fruits), Welness Care International Corporation (virgin coconut oil, astaxanthin moringa, brown sugar, natural coffee, vitamin C gold), Willion International Trading (nutritional heart supplement), and the Islamic Da’wah Council (non-profit NGO halal certification authority). END