ILOILO City – This city is set to participate in the 5th Quanzhou Maritime Silk International Brand Expo, from April 18 to 21 in China. Quanzhou is a sister city of Iloilo.
This will be the first time that Iloilo will participate in the Quanzhou Maritime Silk Expo, and according to Iloilo Business Club executive directorLea Lara, it will be a major benchmark for Iloilo’s business community.
Like Iloilo, Quanzhou is a city with a strong commercial history, so the expo offers plenty of opportunities for expanding Iloilo’s trade network. According to Lara, the Iloilo delegation’s main goal is to establish good will between Quanzhou and Iloilo, and also to explore various trade opportunities.
“Three sets na siya ang delegation – ang official delegation gid – nga composed sang city government, headed by Mayor Joe Espinosa III kag may duha siya sa city nga ma-upod; and then we have Ramon Cua Locsin of the Iloilo Chinese Chamber of Commerce; and the president of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry – Iloilo Chapter, Attorney Jobert Penaflorida; and then I will be representing the Iloilo Business Club. And then the Department of Trade and Industry will also be there. May ipadala nga representative si [DTI regional director] Rebecca Rascon. Kag si Ms. Luna Belaong from the LEIPO (Local Economic and Investment Promotion Office) of the Province of Iloilo. So that’s the official delegation,” Lara said.
There will also be members from the investment board, as well as the exhibitors, who will show some of the leading products produced here in Iloilo. According to Lara, products, like turmeric tea and cocoa products will be featured at the Iloilo booths as well as investment kits to help interested parties learn about Iloilo. Moreover, on the 18th, the delegation will put together a fashion show to off some Iloilo-made clothing design.
Lara also adds that the delegation will be tasked with exploring some of the opportunities afforded by Iloilo’s Sisterhood City Arrangement with Quanzhou. They will also observe how Quanzhou organizes its expo, so that some of their practices may be replicated here in Iloilo./PN
