SHANGHAI — The Philippines is on track to achieve a new record in sales at this year's China International Import Expo (CIIE), with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) anticipating deals amounting to USD 700 million.
According to Philippines News Agency, the Philippine pavilion kicked off the CIIE on Monday with an impressive USD 610 million in sales, with a majority coming from fresh fruits and marine products. DTI Undersecretary Ceferino Rodolfo highlighted that these figures represent actual purchase agreements rather than mere memoranda of understanding. The CIIE, which is China's most significant buying expo and exclusively features foreign enterprises, does not include Chinese company participants. It serves as a marketplace for international suppliers to meet the demands of the Chinese market and is held annually at the National Convention and Exhibition Center in Shanghai. The expo will conclude this Friday, with the Philippines featuring durian prominently at their pavilion for the 2023 event. Philippine Agriculture Attaché in Shanghai Ana Abejuela stated that a significant portion of the USD 630-million sales were from bananas and durian, the latter having begun exports to China just in April of this year. Abejuela mentioned the vast opportunities for durian producers in the Philippines and outlined the Department of Agriculture's expansion program to bolster durian production and quality. Last year, the Philippines reached its highest CIIE sales to date at USD 655.15 million.