THE Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) is considering organizing a delegation to attend this year’s China-ASEAN Expo (CAEXPO) in September.
This came after the meeting between CAEXPO Secretariat Guangxi International Expositions Bureau director general Wang Lei and CCCI trustees over the weekend.
The 14th CAEXPO will be held in Nanning, China.
According to CCCI president Melanie Ng, what makes CAEXPO different from other expositions in China is that it is both a trade and investment expo. She said delegates can engage participants from other ASEAN countries and market products and services to China.
Ng said it is time the Philippines, particularly Cebu, explored selling products and services rather than just importing.
“We are importing a lot from China. Without a doubt, our imports far exceed our exports to China. But China is a huge market. We should be selling more to China,” said Ng.
The CCCI president is encouraging her members, especially exporters, to look at this opportunity in Nanning and explore unique products they can offer to China.
Following the warming of relations between the Philippines and China under the Duterte administration, China has promised more economic benefits to the country.
Last October, Consul General Shi Yong of the People’s Republic of China visited CCCI to discuss a possible collaboration between Cebu and China.
The discussion zeroed in on micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) development and business links and exchange programs like trade missions, business and investments conferences, both inbound and outbound.