Indonesia’s Consul General Berlian Napitupulu has met recently with the Oriental Pacific Chamber of Commerce, Inc. – a group of businessmen in the province’s capital City of Mati, with hopes to forge stronger business relations that will boost trade and industry between the two territories.
During a special meeting on Thursday, June 15, held in the City of Mati, Napitupulu urged local businessmen to promote their products and services to Indonesia. He assured his office’s assistance to the businessmen in terms of introducing their products and services to the Indonesian market.
“We are not stranger with each other as we share Sulawesi Sea and we are of the same race,” said Napitupulu, adding that trade should be boosted between Indonesia and parts of Davao Region in the Philippines since the bulk of the present trade is more concentrated between Luzon and Indonesia.
He said Davao Oriental and Indonesia’s proximity to each other makes it more favorable for business. From Davao Oriental, Indonesia can be reached within three hours via boat and as quickly as 30 minutes through a speed boat. The local businessmen, headed by its Vice President Engr. Joel Capalit, hope that connectivity from the province to the neighboring country of Indonesia will be enhanced in order to pave way for more vibrant trade and exchange as well opportunities in education and other services.
Indonesia, being the fourth largest country in the world is also the seventh biggest exporting country in the Philippines. Among its top export products to the Philippines are vehicles, mineral fuels, ores, food oils, machinery, paper, and electronic equipment, among others.
Napitupulu hopes to showcase these products at the upcoming First Indonesian Manufactured Products Expo 2017 on July 22-24 at the Indonesian Convention Center in Davao City. He invited businessmen here to participate in the event which is touted to open opportunities and business linkages.
Meanwhile, Carmelo Laburada, Head of the Center for Promotion on Investment and Trade (CPOINT) of Davao Oriental, expressed the province’s interest to participate in the booming and flourishing exchange between the two countries. He said that establishing links with Indonesia is timely since Davao Oriental is currently focusing its development on agri-industry and tourism.
He enumerated potential export products of Davao Oriental such as mango, coconut, banana, and chili, among others. Aside from various agriculture products, Davao Oriental as a new emerging tourism destination in Davao Region opens up and creates new markets and investment potential for the province.
Department of Trade and Industry Provincial Director Jose Calub welcomes the prospect of Davao Oriental establishing business ties with Indonesia, saying the creation of a linkage means boosting trade and stimulate growth, favorable for both economies. By Karen Lou Deloso
