The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in the Philippines is ramping up efforts through initiatives like the Outbound Business Matching Mission (OBMM) to help Filipino companies, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) access the Qatar market and expand their international presence.
“Part of the government’s plan is supporting SMEs to grow. And that’s where DTI comes in to have these types of programmes for the SMEs to grow bigger. Not just within the Philippines but to internationalise and access international markets,” said Vince Lorenzo Liwanag, Commercial Attaché of the Philippine Trade Investment Centre (PTIC) – Riyadh.
Speaking to Gulf Times, Liwanag explained that the OBMM is one of the DTI’s key initiatives designed to connect Filipino businesses with international partners. According to Liwanag, the recently concluded Qatar leg of the OBMM marked the first major activity organised by DTI Riyadh, which opened in November last year.
Liwanag said the participating companies during the OBMM represented a wide range of sectors, including fresh/frozen produce, processed foods, and personal care and pharmaceuticals. While in Qatar, the Philippine delegation visited different hypermarkets in Doha and held B2B meetings with their counterparts in the country.
Acknowledging that “while there’s still room for growth,” Liwanag pointed out that Filipino businesses are keen on looking for opportunities to expand their footprints in other international markets.
“The positive reception of Philippine companies to DTI initiatives like the OBMM reflect a robust interest to expand overseas, meaning there’s already this mindset among our SMEs to grow beyond the confines of the Philippine market, and the OBMM has highlighted this strong inclination to internationalise,” Liwanag emphasised.
Citing Filipino brand Century Pacific Food, Inc, Liwanag said the company’s various products have already established a strong presence in the Qatari market. “They’re not just targeting Filipinos; they’re targeting generally all the population. This showcases a clear commitment from our companies to establish a global presence and compete on an international scale,” he noted.
During the Qatar leg of the OBMM, Philippine ambassador Mardomel Celo D Melicor addressed the participants, citing the Philippines’ long-term vision, the ‘AmBisyon Natin 2040’. He emphasised that “efficient manufacturing and exporting infrastructure are essential to achieving economic development by 2040.”
Underscoring the importance of eyeing global markets and how this will benefit the Philippines’ economic well-being, Melicor said: “This openness will also help attract investments to our country, particularly from Qatar… I believe there are always niche opportunities for collaboration between the Philippines and Qatar.”
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