The Philippine Embassy in Warsaw participated for the second time in the Asia Trade “Know-How” 2016 Congress held in Ostroda, Poland from 22 to 24 September 2016. Asia Trade Know-How is a business event that features both trade fair and conference with a mission to enhance trade relations between Poland and Asian countries. This year’s exhibitors are leading Polish companies from the chemical, engineering, iron and steel industries.

In her brief remarks, Ambassador Patricia Ann V. Paez stressed that the Philippines is the biggest and fastest-growing economy in Southeast Asia with a GDP growth rate of 7% in the 2^nd quarter of 2016. She also informed the audience about the positive implications of the creation of an ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) last December 2015 for Polish entrepreneurs and urged them to locate their production facilities in the Philippines. Ambassador Paez enumerated the fiscal and non-fiscal incentives if they locate their businesses in any of the 345 Special Economic Zones (SEZ) which are being managed by the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA).

Mr. Antonio Alcazar III, Consultant of EU-Philippines Business Network (EPBN), delivered a PowerPoint presentation on EPBN and cited the Philippines’ competitive edge as an investment destination and the investment opportunities in the different industries or sectors in the Philippines. Videos about the Philippines were also shown.

The Embassy gave away information materials such as the “Invest Philippines” kits, brochures of “Doing Business in the Philippines”, EMB Services, IFEX Philippines, Manila Fame, Business Beyond Border magazine, CDs of Directory of PH Exporters and flyers promoting VuQo, San Miguel Beer and Mama Sita’s products and provided contact information for those Philippine products for interested importers.

The Embassy also promoted Philippine tourism by featuring selected tourist destinations in its booth and by distributing the Polish version of “It’s More Fun in the Philippines” brochures and bags. It promoted Philippine products specifically Philippine dried mangoes, San Miguel beer, Vuqo and Mama Sita’s products. The Embassy also offered sampling of VuQo vodka and dried mangoes during the 3-day event.

During the evening banquet and Asian Festival of Culture, Mr. Olly Louie Castillo, founder and choreographer of the Mabuhay Folk Dance paired with Ms. Mary Rose Templanza in performing the Tinikling and Cariñosa dances which provided a big boost to the embassy’s cultural diplomacy campaign.

The Philippine booth was visited by approximately over 600 people with inquiries on the country’s export and import procedures.

L to R: Ms. Mary Rose Templanza, Philippine Ambassador Patricia Ann V. Paez, Mr. Dariusz Perzianowski, Mr. Olly Louie Castillo, Mr. Mariusz Dudzicki and Ms. Evelyn L. Vega at the Philippine booth

Display of the Philippine products

Ms. Templanza and Mr. Castillo of the Mabuhay Folk Dance

L to R: Ms. Vega, Ambassador Paez, Mr. Castillo, General Counselor of the Ministry of Development Ms. Lucyna Jaremczuk, Vice-President of Expo Arena Mr. Piotr Oraczewski, Ms. Templanza and Ms. Catherine B. Ramintas

Ambassador Paez with the President of Perol Oil Mr. Piotr Legucki and Ms. Vega

Ambassador Paez with Vice Marshal of Warmia-Mazury region Ms. Wioletta Ślaşka-Zyśk and Mr. Oraczewski

Ambassador Paez with former deputy Prime Minister of Poland Mr. Janusz Piechoński

Ambassador Paez during her interview with TVP3 Olsztyn

Mr. Castillo and Ms. Templanza of Mabuhay Folk Dancers during their performance of the Philippine dance “Cariñosa” at the Gala dinner

Center: Ambassador Paez, on the right with the Officer/Consultant of EU-Philippines Business Network (EPBN) Mr. Antonio Alcazar III and Ms. Vega

Director of Sharda Group Mr. Jerzy Kotwas who will go to the Philippines to participate in the 64^th Manila Fame 2016

Ambassador Paez with Mr. Janusz Draminski author of the book entitled “Our Underwater World” who explored underwater photography in Dumaguete City

Ambassador Patricia Ann V. Paez with Vietnamese Ambassador Pham Kien Thiet on the left

Extreme right: Mr. Alcazar III with the representatives of De Care World Gourmet Food Company who had preliminary interest in participating in the IFEX Philippines in May 2017

L to R: Ambassador Paez, Vice-Chairman of Polish-Turkish Chamber of Commerce and Mr. Alcazar III

Ambassador Paez with Mr. Alcazar on extreme right with Polish businessmen who expressed interest in the Philippine market

Ambassador Paez during her presentation about the Philippines

Mr. Alcazar III during his presentation about the EU-Philippines Business Network (EPBN) and investment opportunities in the Philippines

Information materials and Philippine products promoted in the Asia Trade Know-How 2016 Congress