Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio urged Davao entrepreneurs to take the opportunity of building partnership after the city hosted the Indonesian First Manufactured Products Expo from July 22 to 24.
“May the expo attracted potential buyers and business partners from both countries.” She was hopeful the event would pave way for more economic activities for both Indonesian and Filipino entrepreneurs and bring about two peoples together in the spirit of entrepreneurship friendship and regional cooperation.
“Together let us create stronger Indonesian Filipino relations and contribute to the economies of our two nations,” he said.
The mayor wished that some of the product showcase would find a niche in the market like “Kopiko”, an Indonesian coffee product which became popular in Southern Mindanao.
Consul General Berlian Napitupulu said the manufactured expo is the third expo out of the 12 promotional activities that they are organizing this year. The other two events were the Indonesia Food and Beverage Expo with the Indonesian Culinary Festival held at the Marco Polo Hotel.
Another solo trade exhibition will be held in November on Indonesia fashion expo showcasing garments, bags, shoes and all accessories. He said they will also organize some mix expo in cooperation with the different cities in Mindanao.
All of the events are aimed at strengthening the Philippines and Indonesia bilateral relations in all sectors and in all levels of government and the private.
”We believe that now is the right moment and high time for us to boost our bilateral relations and cooperation. As a neighbour we share borders between Sulu Sea in the southern part of Mindanao and Sulawesi Sea in the northern part of Sulawesi in central part of Indonesia.
Napitupulu said, “We represent two of the largest archipelagic sea and among the countries with the longest coastlines where Indonesia has some 17,000 islands while the Philippines has more than 7000 islands making us as the largest archipelagic country in the world.”
With the combined population of more than 360 million, Napitupulu said it has great potential for self- economic growth and prosperity.
Napitupulu also counted on the commitment of Philippine President Duterte and Indonesian President Widodo to level up bilateral relations.(PNA)
