After nine days of exploring the tourism attractions of South Africa and its business potential for Philippine products and industries, participants from the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry South Africa Trade Mission reported positive gains.
“Our trade mission was exploratory in nature but we gained information on doing business in South Africa which opened opportunities for our products and services,” reported Carmel de Pio- Salvador, chairperson of the South Africa Business Council in her evaluation report.
Salvador said that South Africa was a unique and vibrant market and their trip made them realize that there is still so much to do in our own country.
During their trade mission, the delegates conducted a business forum and business matching session with the members of Johannesburg Chamber of Commerce & Industry and the Cape Town Chamber of Commerce & Industry.
They also conducted courtesy visits to the Philippine Embassy in Pretoria and to Ambassador Pieter Andries Vermeulen.
During their business forum, the delegates promoted Cebu as one of the top tourist destination in Asia and presented investment and trade opportunities in the province.
They were also able to distribute and present product samples, disseminate flyers, company brochures, and business cards during official functions which provided them networking opportunities with the private and public sectors based in South Africa.
The Cebu delegates also visited sites as well as company visits to industries and companies in South Africa and learned how they do their businesses.
Salvador said that because of the trade mission, they were able to establish business partners and contacts in South Africa and some of the delegates were able to generate product orders.
One of the delegates, Justin S. Uy, president of Cebu-based fruit processor and exporter Profood International Corp., said three buyers have expressed interest in importing their dried mangoes and he already started getting orders.
Other delegates also generated orders like furniture manufacturer Factory Direct Ventures Co. Ltd., which was presented in the trade mission by its Executive Vice-President Allan C. Limas.
Other mission participants are also pounding deals such as partnership ventures with South African traders, which Salvador thinks will be sealed within the year.
But aside from establishing business ties with the South African markets, the delegates were also able to create camaraderie between themselves.
Businessmen in the furniture, beverages, food products, business process outsourcing, forwarding, motor vehicles, real estate and construction industries joined the trade mission.
In terms of exports, CCCI previously reported that Philippine trade relations with South Africa is growing such as garments, houseware, holiday decorations, toys and dolls, fashion accessories and furniture, among others.
World Bank also ranked South Africa in recent surveys as among the top 30 countries in the world for ease in doing business, which can be attributed to its economic policies, business environment, infrastructure, free trade agreements, industrial capability, technology and competitiveness.
Salvador said that because of their efforts, South African businessmen were also motivated to explore business in Cebu through a possible trade mission.
After the South African trade mission this year, Cebu Chamber will also be holding a trade mission to India and Israel.