Phl food sector shapes up for Asean 2015

MANILA, Philippines - Companies in the Philippines are urged to start coming up with strategies to take advantage of the common Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) market as it moves towards economic integration by 2015.

The ASEAN Economic Com-munity will present investment opportunities for Philippine firms both locally and region-wide.

For the food sector, the Philippine Food Processors and Exporters Organization (Philfoodex) Inc. will lead the way through the Philippine Food Expo set on May 16-18 at the World Trade Center in Pasay City.

Now on its 12th edition, the expo will highlight the innovations and trends in the food industry that an economically-integrated Southeast Asian region will bring, and how local food players can take advantage of these changes to remain competitive.

According to Philfoodex president Roberto Amores, the event will be a most ideal venue for sourcing and business matching for local and foreign food industry players since the country has many export-quality products still unknown to the world market.

Three-day exhibit will feature a series of technical and business sessions, seminars product demonstrations and special events.

Seminars include Doing Business with the Philippines in the Context of the Asean Economic Community and Taxation Within the AEC Framework on May 16; Updates on the Department of Science and Technology Programs and Services and US Food Safety Act and How It Affects Philippine Exporters to the US on May 17; and Harmonization of the Food Business in the Context of Asean Trade, Philippine Food Safety Act, and Meat Processing Trends and Updates on May 18.

The Philippine Food Expo is organized by Philfoodex Inc., in cooperation with the Philippine Exporters Confederation (Philexport), the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Confederation of Asia-Pacific Chambers of Commerce and Industry (CACCI), the Bureau of Agricultural Research, Far Eastern University, and BCS Systems and Technologies.

For details, log on to www.phillippinefoodexpo.com.