DUBAI: The recent delegation from the Philippine Department of Trade and Industry’s Export Marketing Bureau (DTI-EMB) to the three Gulf countries was able to secure $10.98 million in “actual and potential” sales following a series of engagements with businesses in the country.
This, according to Eric Elnar, the Philippines’ commercial attaché to the UAE who also disclosed to The Filipino Times in an email interview that DTI is planning another multi-sectoral Outbound Business Matching Mission (OBMM) in February 2018 to cover bigger grounds.
“As reported by Export Marketing Bureau, Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), the recent OBMM to the Middle East generated a total of $10.98 million in actual and potential sales,” said Elnar, adding that aside from the UAE, the Nov. 3 – 16 business trip included Saudi Arabia and Oman.
The delegation was able to seek audience with the Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ADCCI) led by HE Abdullah Ghurair Al-Qubaisi, deputy director general of the business group, and arranged by Ambassador Constancio R. Vingno, Jr.
The two parties agreed to explore ties and do increase bilateral trade.
“No update yet,” Elnar said, when asked what has transpired then on, but added that the planned Feb. 2018 mission “will be an opportunity to follow-up and sustain/develop further the business negotiations that were initiated during the November visit.”
Another trade mission was also recently in the UAE, this time from the Philippine Department of Agriculture, which took part in two important trade and marketing events in Dubai and Abu Dhabi: The Middle East Natural & Organic Products Expo (MENOPE) in Dubai on Dec. 11-13, 2017 and SIAL Abu Dhabi on Dec. 12-14, 2017.
Some 19 Filipino agribusiness companies from across the country joined the trade mission.
“The Philippine Trade and Investment Center-Dubai is looking forward to more business opportunities for the Philippine exhibitors which will contribute in increased exports for our country particularly in boosting our natural and organic industries,” said Elnar.
“We are confident and hopeful that (the trade and marketing events) would be an excellent platform for the Philippines in forging productive business relationships for our exporters,” he added.
