Philippine Airlines (PAL), the country’s official flag carrier, has affirmed its support for the Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions (CITEM) through a signing ceremony on Monday, May 15, 2023, at CITEM in Pasay City.
“We at CITEM recognize PAL’s vital contributions to the country’s international trade relations and economy. This signing will mark the beginning of many more partnerships, in hopes of contributing to the empowerment of Filipino micro, small, and medium enterprises and making the lives of Filipinos better as a whole,” CITEM Executive Director, Dr. Edward Fereira, Ph.D. said.
As the Department of Trade and Industry’s (DTI) export promotion arm, CITEM is at the forefront of promoting the Philippines as a reliable source of premium quality products and services through its signature events, participation in overseas trade fairs and missions, and other export promotion programs.
CITEM and PAL’s first collaboration will be IFEX Philippines 2023, CITEM’s long-running trade event and sourcing program for Philippine and global food and ingredients. With PAL as its official carrier, CITEM is set to propel the Philippine food scene to new heights as it welcomes an estimated 10,000 local and foreign buyers and visitors at IFEX Philippines 2023.
Captain Stanley K. Ng, Philippine Airlines President and COO, and CITEM Executive Director, Dr. Edward Fereira, P.h.D., join forces to promote Filipino MSMEs and products to the international market.
The 16th edition of IFEX Philippines, the biggest international food and ingredients trade show in the country, will be held at the World Trade Center Metro Manila in Pasay City from May 26 to 28, 2023. With over 500 Philippine-based and international exhibitors, IFEX Philippines aims to bring innovative Philippine food products to the global market.
“This partnership holds massive significance as our continuous efforts to promote Filipino food, as well as our other brands Create Philippines, Manila FAME, and Sustainability Solutions Exchange will now have a much-needed boost with the support of PAL,” Fereira added.
Among the products to be showcased at IFEX Philippines are beverages, fine food and specialties, fruits and vegetables, biscuits and confectioneries, snacks and crispy savory food products, meat and poultry, dairy products, grain products, seafood and marine products, organic and natural products, raw materials and food ingredients, and equipment and services.
IFEX Philippines will serve as a platform for business-to-business activities, as well as multi-sensory sourcing experiences through dynamic cooking demonstrations, product presentations, and special events and seminars. This year’s edition of IFEX Philippines will also delight buyers and visitors with a number of thematic and innovative exhibitions of Philippine and international food brands, namely: Flavor Finds, Open House, and IFEX Kitchen.
SOARING ALLIANCE: Present during the PAL-CITEM partnership signing led by (front row, L-R) Captain Stanley Ng, PAL President and COO; and Dr. Edward Fereira, P.h.D., CITEM Executive Director, are PAL executives (L-R): Jeffrey Llorca, Technical Assistant; Shiela Lim-Yuliong, PAL Regional Head – Middle East, Australasia and Europe; Ria Domingo, PAL Vice President for Marketing; and Cielo Villaluna, PAL Corporate Affairs Manager.
“We are honored to be CITEM’s official carrier and official partner for its local and international undertakings. We congratulate CITEM for providing export-driven programs, spearheading participation in overseas trade fairs, organizing signature events in the Philippines and high-profile promotional activities in key markets abroad,” said Captain Stanley Ng, PAL President and Chief Operating Officer.
