12 November 2017, Tel Aviv - A 14-person business mission representing 11 companies from the Philippines are on an export and investment roadshow in Israel from 06-13 November 2017 to promote trade and investments.
The delegation, headed by Assistant Secretary Rafaelita Aldaba of the Industry Development and Trade Policy Group (IDTPG) – Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), is composed of eleven (11) companies from the food, electronics, IT and trading sectors of the Philippines. Assistant Secretary Rafaelita M. Aldaba is joined by Ms. Agnes R. Legaspi and Ms. Rafaelita C. Castro, Assistant Director and Division Chief of DTI-Export Marketing Bureau, respectively.
The roadshow started with a meeting with the Jerusalem Chamber of Commerce on 07 November 2017 for abusiness presentation before the business community in Israel. “This event is a milestone in improving the bilateral trade relationship between Israel and the Philippines. The Jerusalem Chamber of Commerce will serve as a bridge for a reliable friendship and business relationship between Israel and the Philippines,” said Mr. DrorAtari, President of Jerusalem Chamber of Commerce.
The business-to-business meetings (B2B) was followed by a briefing on Kosher certification of food products conducted by Rabbi Kaz to provide the Philippine food exporters with information useful to their expansion to the Israeli mainstream market.
The second leg of the mission was a presentation before the Haifa Chamber of Commerce on 08 November 2017. Mr. David Castel, President of Haifa Chamber of Commerce, conveyed that the Chamber welcomes new business relationship with the Philippines. Haifa is the second largest city in Israel.
On 09 November 2017, the Philippine companies had a total of 35 business-to-business meetings organized by the Federation of Israeli Chambers of Commerce.
Assistant Secretary Aldaba encouraged Israelis to explore the Philippine business environment indicating that the Philippines is now one of Asia’s brightest spots for investment in view of its stable macroeconomic fundamentals, consistently high GDP growth rate and resurgent manufacturing sector.
Mr. Itamar Gero, President of the Israel Chamber of Commerce in the Philippines, indicated that now is the time to see the business and investment opportunities in the Philippines. “While the country is still evolving, that is the best time to search for opportunities in doing business,” said Mr. Gero.
Philippine Ambassador to the State of Israel Neal Imperial explained that there is a need to change Israel’s perception onthe Philippines. “As one of the fastest growing economies in the world in the last seven years, the Philippines should be viewed by Israeli business no longer as an economic haggard but as a prime investment destination and a source of high quality exports,” he said.
The delegation also visited the Technion University in Haifa, one of the top ten leading universities in science and technology research and Filipino and Asian stores in Tel Aviv. The delegation concluded their visit with a briefing at the Haifa Economic Corporation which develops large-scale investment projects in Haifa.–END-
DTI-IDTPG Assistant Secretary Rafaelita M. Aldaba discussed the twelve (12) priority industries of the Philippines and encouraged Israeli businessmen to explore the business and investment opportunities in the Philippines.
Philippine Ambassador to the State of Israel Neal Imperial invited the business community in Israel to see the warm relationship of the two countries as window of opportunity to strengthen bilateral trade relations.
(From left to right front row) DTI-EMB Division Chief Rafaelita C. Castro, Ambassador Neal Imperial, DTI-IDTPG Assistant Secretary Rafaelita M. Aldaba, Third Secretary and Vice Consul Judy Razon, and DTI-EMB Assistant Director Agnes R. Legaspi, with the members of the delegation.
The delegation at the Technion University.
The delegation conducts a presentation at the Haifa Chamber of Commerce.
B2B meetings at the Federation of Israeli Chambers of Commerce.
Assistant Secretary Rafaelita M. Aldaba presents Philippine products to Mr. Ze’ev Lavie, Director for International Relations of the FICC.