CCCI eyes China, Europe for trade missions this year

Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry president Antonio Chiu says they are planning travel missions to these areas this year

The Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) is eyeing China and Europe for foreign travel missions this year.

Antonio Chiu, CCCI president, said that with China’s aggressive stance in building more bridges for trade in the Philippines, it continues to be a favorite market for businesses.

“China is more aggressive now coming to the Philippines but we just have to be selective. It cannot be just an open market,” said Chiu, honorary consul of the Slovak Republic, said.

For Chiu, different businesses from China should be allowed in the Philippines but the country should strike a balance for the market to remain open to local competition.

With the loans and grants China has pledged to the Philippines, Chiu said it shows the economic powerhouse is focusing on establishing relations.

“China has also been focusing in the Philippines in so far as loans and grants are concerned, which is its promise to the Philippines. Some of them still have to be implemented,” he said.

The chamber is also open to the possibility of foreign trade missions to Europe to tap the business potential in the area.

“There are so many possibilities but it really depends on our member companies, on what their interests are. There are so many places in the world that we haven’t (visited) to promote trade,” he said.

As Cebu enjoyed continued investments both foreign and local investors, Chiu said they guide these investors in terms of the province’s economic environment.

The CCCI president said most of the foreign investors contact them for business matching.

“When there are foreign delegations that come here they also call on the chamber. We tell them what to expect in Cebu, what we have to offer and, in some cases, they request for business matching. So we also arrange it,” he said.

CCCI sent a delegation to the first China International Import Expo (CIIE) last Nov. 5 to Nov. 10 and participated in meetings with Chinese companies during the five-day expo.

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) reported US$124 million worth of sales generated by Philippine companies during the CIIE. /

SUNSTAR FILE WINDOW OF OPPORTUNITY. The Great Wall of China is one of the most iconic symbols of the economic powerhouse. The Cebu Chamber of Commerce is eyeing a travel mission to the world’s second largest economy. It is also planning a trip to Europe.