ABOUT 18 Indonesian businesses are set to have business-to-business matching with 40 businessmen from Mindanao Wednesday, June 28 at Marco Polo Hotel as part of the Indonesian government’s effort of improving trade relations between Indonesia and Mindanao.
Before the 2nd Indonesia Food and Beverage Expo on June 29 to July 1 at Abreeza Ayala Malls, the office of the Indonesian Consulate in Davao City first organized a business-to-business matching today at Marco Polo Hotel with the objective of establishing better trade relations and joint venture agreements with Indonesian and Filipino businessmen.
Consul General of the Indonesian Consulate in Davao City Berlian Napitupulu said last year’s business to business matching generated US$112,000 initial deal for the food and beverage expo alone. Although they do not have a concrete target of initial deal value they want to reach, Napitupulu said they wish to exceed the amount reached in 2017.
Indonesian companies that are expected to be present in the business to business matching are mostly visiting Davao City for the first time.
“To be honest, most of these Indonesian businessmen do not know a lot about Mindanao so we are very happy be able to bring them here in Davao City for the expo and the business to business matching,” said Napitupulu adding that the products they brought with them include Indonesian brands of coffee, biscuit, wafer, chocolates, noodles, snacks, sugar, and beverage among many others.
He added that some of these are already in the Philippine market but are channeled through other countries. This business to business matching, he said, will hopefully encourage direct trade from and to the Philippines and Indonesia without any more passing through a third country.
The confirmed 40 Philippine business individuals are coming from Davao City, General Santos City, and Digos. The invitation had been spread throughout Mindanao. They are hoping to reach their 60 to 70 target of Filipino businesses participating with more regions in Mindanao represented. These Mindanawon businesses are mostly trading and distribution food companies.
“We urge them to make direct contact to have significant changes with the Davao-Gensan-Bitung Roro route,” he said.
Napitupulu added the business to business matching is also in preparation of a bigger international trade expo in Indonesia on October 24 where different business from other countries will be participating. All kinds of products will also be showcased during this expo, not just food and beverage. (JPA)