Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Zhao Jianhua delivers his message during the Manila leg of the China International Import Expo Roadshow held early this year in Makati City.

All roads lead to global financial hub Shanghai, as the opening of the first China International Import Expo (CIIE)—the country’s largest trade fair—draws near.

To be held from 5-10 November 2018 at the National Exhibition and Convention Center in Shanghai, China, the CIIE will exclude Chinese companies on its floor and will give full exposure to foreign exhibitors.

In the following years, China is expected to import goods and services worth more than $10 trillion. The historic trade event thus gives a chance to enterprises from all over the world to enter the huge Chinese market.

As such, the Philippines will send its delegation led by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to the maiden edition of CIIE.

The DTI will feature 36 exhibitors representing sectors in food and agriculture and consumer goods at the CIIE’s “Enterprise and Business Zone,” where they will showcase an array of Philippine services and goods like fresh fruits, vegetables, coconut products, and indigenous herbal infusions.

According to the DTI, the participating Philippine companies in the CIIE have successfully met the criteria set by its organizers.

Alongside 80 other countries, the Philippines will also have a country pavilion at the expo, which will highlight its long-standing history with China.

The pavilion will also feature the Philippines’ own tourism and education sectors.

Currently, the DTI is organizing store visits and on-site business-to-business matching activities for the Philippine participants for the expo.

The agency will also ensure that the said activities will continue throughout the entire trade mission.

Among the partner agencies of the DTI are the Department of Agriculture (DA), Department of Tourism (DoT), Department of Science and Technology (DoST) and the Commission on Higher Education (CHED).

The Department has also forged partnerships with the private sector through the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI), Federation of Filipino Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry Inc. (FFCCCII), Cebu Chamber of Commerce (CCCI), Mandaue Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI), Bank of China (BOC) in Manila, and the Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba.

As of now, more than 130 countries with 2,800 enterprises have confirmed their participation in the CIIE.

According to the DTI, China was the top trading partner of the Philippines last year, with trade valued at USD 25.48B.

Its trade deficit, however, was at around $9.4 billion. Thus, the Philippines sees the CIIE as an avenue to increase its exports and to improve the said trade imbalance.

Philippine companies interested in exporting to China may also look forward to participating in the CIIE next year, as China revealed its plan to make its largest trade fair an annual event.♦

Date of Release: 16 October 2018