PH embassy in Iraq organizes 1st-ever trade mission for Iraq, Kurdistan region
THE Philippine Embassy in Baghdad has brought to the Philippines the first ever Iraq and Kurdistan region trade mission to showcase the Philippine products and other business opportunities in the country.
Attendees participated in a series of business and trade symposiums, Philippine product exhibitions, and plant tours during their five-day visit to the Philippines.
The inaugural trade mission was spearheaded by Philippine Ambassador to Baghdad Generoso DG Calonge, Department of Foreign Affairs Office of Middle East and African Affairs’ (DFA-OMEAA) Assistant Secretary Alfonso A. Ver, Department of Trade and Industry-Export Management Bureau (DTI-EMB) Director Christopher Lawrence S. Arnuco.
To kickstart the trade mission, the Philippine Embassy in Baghdad and DTI-EMB organized a welcome program and a two-day PH business and trade symposium. They were given insights on investing and conducting business in the Philippines.
On their third day in the Philippines, the group then visited Betis and Clark City City, Pampanga.
Representatives from PhilExpo-Region 3 highlight the export quality of the products produced in the Philippines.
A total of 17 exporters presented a wide array of Philippine products to the Iraqi participants.
After the brief trade exposition in Central Luzon, the delegates visited Philippine coconut water processing and “lambanog” distillery plants down south in Peter Paul Phils. (Candelaria, Quezon) and Philippine Craft Distillers, Inc. (Lipa City, Batangas), respectively.
Seven “letter of intent” was signed as a result of the trade mission. A Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) is also being explored to export coconut fruits and coconut by-products to Iraq.
A second follow-through of the trade mission is being considered with the target date of the activity in the first quarter of 2023.
