[NEWS] Mindanao traders invited to Hawaii expo

(Six takers so far, and more are coming from Mindanao, according to organizers. Isn't this a good sign for business in Mindanao? Give peace a chance!)

DAVAO CITY (Courtesy of MindaNews/29 July) -- Showcase Mindanao in Hawaii.

The Philippines-USA Business Club (PUBC) and the Filipino Chamber of Commerce in Hawaii (FCCH) have invited Mindanao’s business sector to participate in the Philippine International Trade Exposition and Business Summit in Honolulu, Hawaii on December 12 to 16.

Ramon Escueta, PUBC chair, told MindaNews Thursday that they came over to meet with the business sector in Mindanao and invite them to the event organized as culmination of the centennial celebration of the arrival of the first Filipino migrants in Hawaii.

"We believe that the PhilTrade Expo and Business Summit will provide you with many benefits and a great opportunity to promote your products or services, expand your markets, and meet potential buyers from the United States during trade days," the invitation read.

Expo organizers went to the Ilocos region before coming to Mindanao. They will also invite exhibitors in Cebu and Manila.

As exhibitor, the Mindanao business sector could also promote and sell products there.

Escueta said they met with the Davao City Chamber of Commerce and Industry and leaders of the chambers of commerce and industry around Mindanao, the Filipino-Chinese Chamber of Mindanao and leaders of industries like the furniture association, on July 25 and 26.

The organizers expect to have around 200 booths of domestic and Philippine exhibitors as well as buyers and professionals. The summit will also feature workshops and seminars on how to export and import to and from the United States, he said.

Participation in the expo is a vital step towards firming up mutual ties with the Hawaii business community through trade and commerce, Senator Manuel Roxas said in a statement attached to the invitation.

Vergel Adonis, who co-chairs the expo organizing committee, said six exhibitors from Mindanao have already signed a contract with them. He did not name the groups but said they were into furniture and fruit distribution.

"But the expo is open to all types of trade exhibitors," Adonis said. He said interested exhibitors could visit the expo's official website at www.philtradeexpo.com for more information. Hawaii could be a good market for Davao's exotic fruits, Adonis said. Prospective buyers in Hawaii could market products from Mindanao and eventually invest in it, he said. The Philippines exports around $20 million of goods per year to Hawaii. (Walter I. Balane/MindaNews)