A group of Filipino entrepreneurs aim to support and sustain the development of Filipino-owned restaurants to help them grow through an interconnected group that will have members across the UAE.
The Philippine Business Council League of Food and Beverages Entrepreneurs (PBC-LFBE) aims to form strategic collaborations and connections among fellow Filipino entrepreneurs who have established their F&B business here in the UAE.
The first meeting of the group was organized in April and was attended by 22 representatives, held under the auspices of the Philippine Consulate General in Dubai (Dubai PCG) and in collaboration with the Philippine Business Council – Dubai & Northern Emirates (PBC-DNE) and the Philippine Trade and Investment Center in Dubai.
Gina Valbuena, chairman of PBC-LFBE, states that ongoing challenges faced by the F&B industry require collective knowledge-sharing among Filipinos – a form of ‘bayanihan’ or cooperation is required in order to course through the impact of the changing landscape of the food industry.
“While all of us are homegrown brands and mostly SMEs, we are constantly challenged on how to adapt and be resilient to market conditions as well as rapid developments in the F&B sector. With the creation of the LFBE, the members would have a common platform to collectively discuss and share development plans, new ideas, challenges, courses of action on how to sustain our businesses and increase our value-addition to our Filipino customers including the international market,” said Valbuena.
During the inaugural meeting, PBC-LFBE elected their officers as follows:
Chairman – Ms. Gina Valbuena, Kubyertos Cuisine
Vice Chairman – Mr. Rolly Brucales, Off the Hook Seafood Restaurant
Secretary – Ms. Divina Jimenez, Joy Bubble Coffee Shop
Treasurer – Ms. Christine Galang, Zutto Suki Ramen
Memberships – Mr. Albert Opena, OunceDXB
Valbuena aspires the group to be one that would provide comprehensive plans to help Filipino entrepreneurs develop their business by creating opportunities that will help Filipino-owned F&B businesses prosper in the country.
“There will an active role from my side in engaging the F&B entrepreneurs to take advantage of this sub-committee, to build connections, create opportunities to support each other, highlight and address areas of concerns and engage in active collaborations among each other and other stakeholders,” said Valbuena.
The PBC-LFBE Chairman added that the group hopes to be a platform where Filipino entrepreneurs would come together to help each other grow within the UAE’s multicultural landscape.
“We envision the League of Food and Beverages Entrepreneurs to be recognized as a capacity-building advocate and community represented by Filipino F&B entrepreneurs and to represent and champion the interests of restaurants and allied businesses. We hope to contribute in championing the Filipinos in the UAE and to be a part of the many great brands that bring pride to our country.”
