PARAÑAQUE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE LEADS BUSINESS MISSION TO THE NETHERLANDS

28 November 2006 — Philippine Ambassador to the Netherlands Romeo A. Arguelles reported to DFA Secretary Alberto G. Romulo that the Parañaque Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PqCCI) led by its Executive Director Francisco B. Sta. Ana led a 21-member business mission to the Netherlands from 13 to 17 November 2006.

The business delegation was composed of representatives from 14 multi-sectoral Philippine companies whose primary objective was to match up with Dutch suppliers/investors in the sectors of pharmaceuticals and natural food products, healthcare, cosmetics and perfumes, jewelry and novelty gift items, environmental management systems and renewable energy, real estate, construction for eco-tourism promotion and communications networks.

On their first day, Ambassador Arguelles briefed the group on Dutch-Philippine economic bilateral relations and Dutch business practices. The Ambassador also shared with the businessmen the current political and social climate in the Netherlands. In the evening of the same day, the Ambassador hosted a welcome dinner for the entire delegation in his residence.

The Embassy, in close coordination with Mr. Sta. Ana, arranged and confirmed most of the meetings for the delegation. Initial meetings included discussions with the Amsterdam Chamber of Commerce, followed by a briefing from Ms. Stefanie Streng and Ms. Annette Kreisel of the EvD (Agency for International Business and Cooperation under the Dutch Ministry of Economics) on the EvD Business Promotion and Programmes for Cooperation with Emerging Markets.

After the general briefing for the whole delegation, the companies had one-on-one meetings with potential Dutch companies. PqCCI Executive Director Sta. Ana led meetings with Blender Foundation and Fair Ventures in Amsterdam; Diligent Energy Systems BV and Ingenia in Eindhoven; SWEA Europe in Den Dungen; and Harakosan Europe BV in Hilversum.

Representatives from the Philippine company Seahorse Industries Inc. and the Dutch company ICA Group Netherlands discussed possible areas of cooperation on sheep casings. The Philippine Vgent had meetings with Dutch companies NTC Tank Container Services BV and Emergya Wind Technologies BV for potential partnerships on tank cleaning/repair and alternative energy. Included in the schedule of the mission were visits to plant sites on turbine assembly and tank repair.

PqCCI Executive Director Mr. Sta Ana thanked the Embassy for their assistance to the mission and expressed much satisfaction at its outcome.  END

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