18 November 2005 – Assistant Secretary Ariel Y. Abadilla of the Office of American Affairs announced that Honorary Consul General Felixberto M. Guerrero of the Philippine Honorary Consulate General in Calgary, Alberta province, Canada, is leading a group of businessmen from Calgary on a trade, investment and tourism mission to Manila, Cebu, Boracay and Davao from 14 – 26 November 2005.  The businessmen will meet with Philippine trade, tourism and investment officials; trade officials from the Canadian Embassy in Manila, and officials from the Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Cebu and Davao Cities.

Assistant Secretary Abadilla stated that the group is interested in expanding trade and investment between the two countries, particularly in investing in mining, exploring the potential of Philippine manufacturers to supply fasteners, hand/power tools, and hardware and shop supplies, recruiting financial services specialists, as well as in the distribution of Alberta beef in the Philippines and other Asian countries.

The business delegation is composed of Mr. Guerrero, who is the principal of FSE Financial Group, Inc., a financial service brokerage firm; Mr. Harry Irving, owner of Foothills Steel Foundry, Inc., which produces high quality alloy steel for the mining and aggregate crushing industries worldwide; Mr. John McCann and Mr. John Reeder, President and Manager respectively of Bolt Supply House, a distributor of fasteners and industrial related hardware products across Canada.

Assistant Secretary Abadilla added that Mr. Irving is looking at prospects for investing in large-scale mining, as well as looking at the Philippines as a market for Canadian beef and as a processing and distribution hub for the rest of Southeast Asia, while Mr. McCann is in search of new suppliers as well as new products that can be carried by his hardware supplies distribution business.

During the briefing for the delegation held on 15 November 2005 by officials of the DFA, Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), and Department of Tourism (DOT) at the DFA, the delegation and the government officials agreed to hold follow-up discussions on particular areas that had been identified.  The DTI also informed the delegation that it would provide more detailed information on investing in the Philippines, as well as contact information of potential local counterparts.

At the briefing, Mr. Irving noted that the Philippines is a good alternative for Canadian tourists, especially with the increasing difficulty to enter the United States and the growing hesitation of Canadians to visit the US in their attempt to gain more widespread recognition as being distinct from Americans.  Mr. McCann likewise suggested the expansion of youth exchanges to familiarize Filipinos and Canadians with each other’s culture, and to facilitate greater interaction, including tourism.  END