Eight (8) Canadian companies are set to visit the Philippines to attend the 11th edition of the International Food and Exhibit (IFEX) Philippines organized by Department of Trade and Industry’s (DTI) Center for International Trade Exhibition and Missions (CITEM) on May 19 to 21, 2017 at the World Trade Center and Philippine Trade Training Center in Pasay City.
Coined as the 1st Canadian Food Buying Mission to the Philippines, the mission is organized by the newly opened Trade Section of the Philippine Consulate General in Toronto, the representative office of the Philippine Department of Trade and Industry in Canada.
“This is one way of further assisting our Filipino exporters to penetrate markets such as Canada,” said Senior Trade Commissioner Maria Roseni M. Alvero of PTIC-Toronto.
Participating companies are major companies in the mainstream and ethnic food trade business based in three provinces of Canada: British Columbia, Ontario and Quebec. These companies include Loblaw, the biggest mainstream supermarket chain in the Canada; ethnic market importers/distributors such as Canda Six Fortune Enterprise Co Ltd, Corinthian Distributors Ltd and AFOD Ltd; a world leader in the bulk food trading, Bianca International Organic; and the long standing pioneer suppliers of popular Filipino brands such as APO Products, Wilby Commercial Ltd, and New Almanic International Ltd. They all qualified as top level buyers to the Very Important Buyer (VIB) Incentive Program of the Center for international Trade Expositions and Mission (CITEM), the organizer of IFEX.
This year’s edition of IFEX will highlight the Philippines and the ASEAN region as a reliable supplier of ingredients and specialty food, tropical fruits, vegetables, seafood, beverages, bakery and confectioneries, Halal certified products, natural and organic food as well as allied industries and services, and will feature at least 700 exhibitors.
“Canadian buyers will have an opportunity to meet Philippine exporters and brand owners in pre-arranged business meetings,” added Alvero. Canadian companies will also tour and visit Philippine factories.