Phl envoys visit export oriented sites in Cebu

CEBU, Philippines - Twenty-seven prospective Philippine Ambassadors visited different export oriented sites in Cebu yesterday to get a glimpse of the economic vibrancy of the province.

Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA-7) regional director Nikka Fernandez said that Cebu was chosen as the only location outside of Manila for this special program to equip Philippine diplomats with strategic and tactical information useful for conducting economic diplomacy overseas.

Fernandez said these newly deployed and currently trained Philippine diplomats are assigned to countries like Czech Republic, Singapore, South Africa, Hong Kong, Milan, and Middle East, among others.

The Economic Diplomacy Strategic Management Workshop includes a planned trip to Cebu visiting the "TindahangPinoy", economic zones, and other manufacturing and export enterprises in Cebu, said Fernandez.

The Philippine envoys visited the OTOP (One-Town-One-Product) store called "TindahangPinoy" located in Mandaue City yesterday to see the different world-class, Filipino-made products that have huge potential to sell in their respective country of assignments.

The "TindahangPinoy", which is a 500-square-meter space where OTOP products are displayed and sold, is one of the most successful OTOP stores nationwide. 

It is a depot that showcases the world-class, export quality products in Cebu. It is managed by the Cebu-GTH (Gifts, Toys and Housewares Exporters Foundation), in cooperation with the DTI.

The OTOP store was originally conceptualized as a mechanism to help exporters and traders tap the influx of tourists so they can find products in an accessible venue.

As part of the economic diplomacy subject, newly assigned diplomats will be able to promote Philippine products, and export potential to their countries of assignment, Fernandez said.

Around 70 percent of products sold in the facility are sourced from Central Visayas region, while 30 percent comes from other regions in the country.

Products under OTOP program of the DTI are also being made available to buyers.

The establishment of the facility is considered as one of the exporters' saviors, while the sector is still suffering from slack demand from the overseas market.

Department of Trade and Industry (DTI-7) regional director Asteria Caberte said that this move is good for Cebu and the export sector, as these Philippine Ambassadors can help promote Philippine productsand "their endorsements is a good and effective sales blitz." (FREEMAN)