Xiamen, China – Philippine Ambassador to China Jose Santiago L. Sta. Romana headed the Philippine delegation to the China International Fair for Investment and Trade (CIFIT) held at the Xiamen International Conference and Exhibition Center in the southeastern port city on 08-11 September 2020.
Now on its 21st edition, the annual event held every 08-11 September in Xiamen is China’s premier international investment promotion event. It emphasizes international investment promotions aimed at facilitating bilateral investments. CIFIT is acknowledged by the Global Association of the Exhibition industry as the largest of its kind globally. Its main activities include investment and trade exhibitions, the International Investment Forum (IIF), seminars and symposia on investment opportunities, and investment project matchmaking.
With the Philippines being the Guest Country of Honor (GCH) for 2020 and 2021, the Philippine delegation took the exceptional opportunity provided by this distinction bestowed by the CIFIT Organizing Committee and the Chinese government to highlight the many investment opportunities in the country. In his remarks during the formal opening of the Fair’s Philippine Pavilion, Ambassador Sta. Romana noted that the Philippines as CIFIT Guest Country of Honor was “an important affirmation of the vibrant economic cooperation forged between the Philippines and China, and a tribute to the enduring economic links and long-standing friendship between our two peoples.” Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Ramon M. Lopez also delivered a video message as keynote speaker.
Ambassador Sta. Romana joins Fujian provincial and Xiamen city officials during the formal opening of CIFIT 2020 (left photo). The Ambassador leads Philippine and Chinese officials during the ribbon cutting formally opening the Philippine Pavilion at the fair (right photo).
Among the major events organized by the Philippine delegation was the Philippine Investment Forum that was held in the afternoon of 08 September 2020. The event drew participants from the Chinese government, Chinese business community, representatives of Philippine businesses with presence in China, and other private sector attendees.
Due to the constraints caused by the COVID-19 pandemic on international air travel, the Philippine Trade and Investment Center (PTIC) in China organized virtual meetings between the DTI and Chinese businesses to facilitate focused discussions between the DTI and prospective investors to the Philippines. Two such events were undertaken on 09 September 2020, namely the Roundtable Meeting with Chinese Investors and the implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) and 86Links regarding collaboration between the parties on promoting Philippine economic zones as location for Chinese business operations.
The Ambassador delivers his remarks during the Philippine Investment Forum (left photo) and the 2nd Philippines-China Agricultural Investment Cooperation Forum (right photo). Both activities were sub-events of the Philippines’ participation in CIFIT 2020.
On 10 September 2020, the Office of the Agricultural Counsellor (OAC)-China and PTIC-China organized the 2nd Philippines-China Agricultural Investment Cooperation Forum. The event gathered Philippine and Chinese government officials, academics, and prospective Chinese investors to engage in business partnerships and other investment arrangements, and for the latter, to be apprised on current Philippine agricultural investment policies and opportunities.
The Ambassador is seen engaging with media to elaborate on developments in the Philippine economy, the prevailing investment climate, and opportunities for business in the country.
