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Tuesday, October 18, 2005
Sweden opens market to Cebuano exporters
Some member-countries of the European Union (EU) such as Belgium and Sweden are encouraging the Philippines to use them as the country’s gateway to the EU market.
Envoys from Belgium and Sweden visited Cebu this year to encourage exporters here to sell more products to their countries to meet the needs of their people, as well as the estimated 450 million inhabitants of EU-member countries. EU includes Germany, Turkey, France, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Austria, Finland, Sweden and Poland.
“Sweden is part of EU. Aside from Sweden’s population of around nine million, the Philippine market could also reach the people of other EU countries,” said Christina Af Klint, project manager for imports of the Swedish Federation of Trade.
Economic and Commercial Attache of the Belgium Embassy Vincent Butaye supported Af Klint’s statement saying any product that could enter Belgium could also penetrate the entire EU market.
He told Sun.Star Cebu on the sidelines of a forum on business opportunities in Belgium at the Laguna Garden Café in July that anything that sells in Belgium can be sold in the EU, provided “exporters are prepared to be flexible on non-price factors such as design, quality, efficient and on-time delivery and after-sales services.”
During the forum on business opportunities in Sweden at the Cebu City Sports Club yesterday, Af Klint said Sweden wants to increase its imports from the Philippines and establish a stronger trade relationship with the country.
Low
“We are here (in Cebu for the first time) to look at more opportunities of trade between Cebu and Sweden,” she said.
Af Klint said Sweden is now importing from the Philippines, but the “figures are low.”
“There are many good products from the Philippines but we want to concentrate on frozen processed food, specifically seafood, fresh fruits and vegetables, furniture, handicraft and information technology (IT) services, such as call centers,” she said.
Marianne Dott-Kalle-nius, director for international projects of the Chamber of Commerce and East Sweden, said Sweden is interested in any product that is of good quality.
Aside from quality, Sweden is also very strict in safety, especially on food products.
Af Klint said Swedish companies are also very strict on the conformity of their suppliers to ISO (International Organization for Standardization) and Social accountability.
“On ISO certification, as long as they show proofs that they are on their way to getting ISO certification, (that would be okay already),” she said.
Cebu is Sweden’s first stop in its trade promotion. The delegates will also be meeting with exporters in Cagayan de Oro and Metro Manila. (JBN)
(October 18, 2005 issue)
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