FOODPhilippines, the country’s collective food promotions program, shifts into the higher gear as it joins the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) Food Expo PRO on August 15-17 this year at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre.
Organized by the Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions (CITEM), seven food exhibitors from the Philippines will bring in fine-tasting, fresh, and healthy food options. The Philippine Pavilion, located at Hall 5C, booth E17, will house an array of fresh fruits including durian, cavendish banana, and pineapple. The country pavilion will also feature seafood products across all categories such as mangrove crabs, fresh frozen cuttlefish, and dried seaweed, among others.
Eyeing to penetrate the lucrative Hong Kong market, the seven food exhibitors that will join the business mission are Eng Seng Food Products, Hueza Bakery, Kangkong King, La Carlota Food Enterprise, the Municipal Government of Buguey, Raspina Tropical Fruits Incorporated, and Siargao’s Bounty Seafood Corporation.
The HKTDC Food Expo PRO, which is widely recognized as Asia’s key trade event for food and ingredients, provides a dynamic platform where entrepreneurs can scale their business. The Hong Kong-based expo is seen as a perfect avenue for F&B companies to find reliable business partners and bring home with them wealth of insights passed on by discerning food experts across the globe. In its 2nd edition, the food expo will be a combination of onsite and online platforms called the “Exhibition+.”
“Hong Kong has consistently taken steps to cement its position as a global trading hub. In 2023, it imported a wide variety of food products including seafood, fruits, and vegetables with a total import value pegged at USD 25 billion. With its stronghold markets in the United States, Europe, and China, Hong Kong has maintained a viable position in the global food supply chain,” Ocampo said.
The Philippines shares strong economic ties with Hong Kong spanning decades. In 2023, Hong Kong was the Philippines’ 6th largest trading partner after recording over USD 8 billion in export sales. This accounted for 12% of the Philippines’ total export value with seafood, fruits, and nuts among the staple commodities.
In May 2024, the Philippine Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), through its export promotions arm CITEM, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Hong Kong, as represented by HKTDC. This momentous trade deal forges stronger economic partnership between the Philippines and Hong Kong, aimed at increasing trade activities for their respective local businesses. The agreement also allows the Philippines and Hong Kong to collaborate on areas of mutual interest involving trade promotion activities facilitated by CITEM and HKTDC.
“Hong Kong offers a favorable trade environment for all. For one, it serves as a gateway to other Asian markets due to its strategic location. It boasts of state-of-the-art infrastructure, ensuring efficient logistics of merchandise. Most importantly, it has put in place business-friendly measures which allow foreign enterprises to do business with ease. Among which is the implementation of zero tariff on seafood imports. These are huge opportunities for the Philippines awaiting to be tapped,” Ocampo added.
The country’s participation in the HKTDC Food Expo PRO is made possible through CITEM’s partnership with Philippine Trade and Investment Center in Hong Kong (PTIC-Hong Kong). Likewise, FOODPhilippines is set to participate in the following trade fairs this year: China-ASEAN Expo (CAEXPO) on September 24-28 in Nanning, China; China International Import Expo (CIIE) on November 5-10 in Shanghai, China; and SIAL Paris on October 19-23 in Paris, France.