25 May 2016 – The Philippine Consulate General and the Philippine Trade and Investment Office (PTIC) hosted visiting trade and business officials for the New York leg of the 2016 Philippine Outbound Business Mission (OBM) to the U.S. which was held from May 16 to 22.
The 2016 OBM was organized by the Export Marketing Bureau (EMB) of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI). The Philippine delegation members consisted of Ms. Russhel S. Benosa, Export Sales Director, Farmland Trademarket Solution, Inc. (FTSI); Ms. Salve Angela Aromin Antonio, Founder/CEO, Zen & Sea Enterprises; Mr. Sing Lee Tiu, General Manager, Mr. Lang Eng Kee, Export Manager and Mr. Sherwin Tiu, Market Researcher, Tropicana Food Products, Inc.; Ms. Mary Jane Tan Ong, CEO, Elemie Naturals, Inc.; Ms. Anilyne P. Moreno, AVP for Export and Ms. Mary Joy C. Galiza, Export Account Supervisor, Republic Biscuit Corporation (REBISCO). The EMB officials were led Mr. Senen M. Perlada, Bureau Director, and Ms. Suraida U. Guro, Assistant Division Chief.
Philippine Consul General to New York Mario L. De Leon, Jr. received and welcomed the delegation at the boardroom of the Philippine Center on May 16. In his welcoming remarks, Consul General De Leon highlighted the bullish Philippine economy, touted as the new Asian tiger, and how the U.S.-Philippine trade cooperation continues to be robust, borne by a decades-old alliance and economic complementarity.
The Consul General also emphasized his belief that Philippine exporters potentially stand to reap dividends by examining closely consumption patterns and market demand in mainstream America, which extend beyond traditional Filipino markets in the West and East Coast of mainland U.S. He underscored that Philippine agricultural and technology products, along with Philippine design, can compete in the U.S. market. He observed as well how it would be helpful for the delegation members to familiarize themselves with the U.S. federal regulations that can help Philippine exporters penetrate mainstream markets.
Consul General De Leon concluded with faith that the Philippines is entering a golden age where its products and services can compete globally and domestically, and even exceed other well-known brands. He cited that the Consulate General has contributed to this renaissance by helping make Philippine cuisine “the next big thing” in New York, by launching Filipino Restaurant Week (FRW) 2016 in New York with the participation of 15 Filipino-style restaurants. The FRW is now on its second year and is ongoing from May 16 to 28.
The OBM briefing sessions held at the Philippine Center boardroom from May 16 to 18 featured guest presenters such as Mr. John Howley, Esq. (“Trademarks, International Sales Contracts, and Dispute Resolution Alternatives”); Mr. Jan Cabangon, President, United Food of Asia, Ltd. (“How to export, market, and promote Philippine products in the US”); Mrs. Dilcia Granville, Ph.D., Public Affairs Specialist, U.S. Food and Drug Administration (“U.S. Food and Drug Administration”); Mr. Michael F. O’Connor, Esq. (“Warehousing and Logistics”); Ms. Denise D. Keys, Sales Executive and Mr. Gregory Bonar, Senior Sales Executive for Shipping, United States Postal Service; and Jerry Glass, Field Sales Representative-Northeast, Endicia (“United States Postal Service”); and a video conference with Mr. John Dietz (“Ecommerce Amazon/Online Selling”).
From May 19 to 20, the OBM delegation visited the offices of leading corporate figures in the Tri-State region to learn more about the effective practices of their respective businesses, including Tropicana Food Products, Inc. & EMB/Rema Foods, Inc. in Englewood Cliffs, NJ; CEE Enterprises in North Bergen, NJ; Everlasting Distributors, Inc./Golden Fortune Import & Export Corp. in Bayonne, NJ; Whole Foods Market in Manhattan; Trader Joe’s in Queens, NY; Walmart Supercenter in Secaucus, NJ; East West Market in Bloomfield, NJ; and The Mills at Jersey Gardens in Elizabeth, NJ.
On the final day of the New York leg of the OBM, the delegation paid a last courtesy call on Consul General De Leon, where they apprised him of what they learned and accomplished during the course of their mission. Consul General De Leon also briefed the members on his just-concluded economic outreach trip to Portland, Maine, and encouraged the delegates to persist in exploring potential business opportunities in the Northeast U.S. and other cities where both Filipino and mainstream communities could benefit from Philippine products and services. END
