Central Luzon Goes on 3rd Trade and Investment Mission in Japan

The Central Luzon Growth Corridor Foundation, Inc. (CLGCFI) and the Department of Trade & Industry-3 (DTI-3) first embarked on a joint Trade and Investment Mission in Japan in 2015. The mission gained positive response from the Japanese businessmen and provided the first opportunity for Central Luzon to participate in the Philippine Festival Trade Exhibit.

CLGCFI and DTI regularly organize trade and investment missions to selected countries to promote the region as an investment destination, benchmark best practices in technology or governance, seek possible tie-ups and forge linkages with business communities and participate in events that open opportunities to promote products and services of SMEs from the region.

On 28 September to 02 October 2017, the mission in Japan revisited investment prospects from previous missions and participated again in the Philippine Festival.

The 25-man Central Luzon delegation, composed of officials and representatives from CLGCFI, DTI-3, and SMEs from the Bulacan, Nueva Ecija and Tarlac, was welcomed by no less than Ambassador Jose C. Laurel V and Senior Trade Representative Dita Angara-Mathay and Trade Representatives Maria Socorro Latoja-Kawasaki and Hidehiko Nonaka from the Philippine Trade and Investment Office in Tokyo, Japan.

On its 3rd year, Central Luzon’s participation in the 2017 Philippine Festival Trade Exhibit included ten SME exhibitors from the provinces of Bulacan, Nueva Ecija and Tarlac. With the theme “Likha ng Central Luzon Goes to Tokyo,” the SMEs generated cash sales of Y1,743,204.00 and booked sales of Y1,550,000.00. Aside from the sales, the SMEs also capitalized on the creation of networks established during the fair.

The mission was also an opportunity for the SMEs to get inputs from Japanese experts from the Briefing on the Japanese Market for Home Decors, Fashion Accessories and Gifts, and One-on-One Product Consultancy to gain more knowledge on the requirements and demands of the Japanese market.

The visits to the antenna shops and retail stores also gave the SMEs a better market idea of what sells and trends in Japan.

The Philippine Festival Trade Exhibit remains as a good venue for Central Luzon SMEs and potential exporters to showcase their products. The region should then continue to develop and promote both the SMEs and their products to be more capable to meet the Japanese market requirements.