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| Will fruits and vegetables be this year's sales leaders again? |
International Food Exhibition (IFEX) Philippines opened its 17th annual edition at the World Trade Center in Manila today, showcasing innovation and Filipino private sector initiatives to attract foreign buyers.
Among the stars of the show was Ube Cream Liqueur, an ube-flavored alcoholicdrink developed by Destileria Barako which has so impressed judges that they chose it
as one of the nine Katha Awardees for outstanding products in the exhibition.
“I’m
impressed,” said keynote speaker Sen. Mark Villar, chairman of the Senate
Committee on Trade, Commerce and Entrepreneurship.
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| PINDUTIN DITO |
IFEX Philippines “is a
platform where visions are turned into reality and opportunities are seized,”
he added.
More than 500 exhibitors are
participating this year, made up of food micro, small and medium enterprises,
manufacturers, producers, distributors, and consumers in the export value
chain.
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| Villar |
Villar
pledged support for the budget of the organizer, the government-owned Center for International
Trade Expositions and Missions (CITEM), which is the export promotion arm of the Philippine
Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).
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| TAWAG NA! |
CITEM Officer-In-Charge and
Deputy Executive Director Ma. Lourdes Mediran said, “our country has a rich
tapestry of flavors that remain unknown to certain parts of the world.”
The exposition harnesses the
power of food to bring a sense of community and belonging, “to show the world
the excellent food offerings, innovative craft, and export capabilities of the
Philippines,” she added.
The show also highlights the effort of the Department of Agriculture to push for the production
of what it called Premium 7 crops which are in high demand worldwide: banana,
cacao, coconut, coffee, mango, pineapple, and tuna.
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| PINDUTIN DITO! |
The
organizers are optimistic that exhibitors will be able to exceed last year’s IFEX
record of $162 million in actual and negotiated export sales.
Last year’s sales leaders were fruits and vegetables with $60 million in export sales, followed by snacks and crispy and savory foods with over $21 million.
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| SEE DETAILS HERE |
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