SAN FRANCISCO – Officers of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) called on Consul General Neil Ferrer and discussed ways to strengthen economic ties between the Philippines and the U.S., especially California.
The meeting was attended by Deputy Consul General Raquel R. Solano, Consul Vanessa Bago-Llona, Consul Rowena Pangilinan-Daquipil, Trade Commissioner in Silicon Valley Celynne Layug and Tourism Director Soleil Tropicales and PCCI board members Alegria Limjoco, past chairman of PCCI and president of the Philippine Franchising Association; Eunina Mangio, president of New York-based holding company ServCare International and owner of a chain of restaurants in the Philippines; Socorro Bautista, CEO of Blooming Ventures; and Rebecca Bucad, CEO of pharmaceutical company K2 Drug Group, Inc., Don Orozco of the Filipino American Chamber of Commerce of Santa Clara and Robinson Mangaoang, who manages an accredited Covid Testing Center for California and vice president of Global Maharlika Foundation, Inc., also joined the meeting.
During the meeting, Consul General Ferrer noted opportunities for cooperation between PCCI and the Consulate and the Philippine Trade and Investment Center in Silicon Valley, including through trade promotion activities, such as the Trabaho, Negosyo, Kabuhayan speaker series and Merkado Kultura, which is a pop-up market held at the Philippine Center in San Francisco involving Filipino American SMEs that sell Philippine textiles, some food products, and other lifestyle items.
“The Consulate is looking forward to working with the PCCI to support Philippine businesses and promote Philippine products in the Bay Area and across our consular jurisdiction,” said ConGen Ferrer.
Both parties also discussed various topics including trade and investment opportunities both in the Philippines and the U.S., such as franchising opportunities. They discussed initiatives to promote Philippine products, especially those that are helping create jobs among marginalized sectors, such as indigenous peoples of the Philippines.
Trade Commissioner Layug also underscored the need for greater collaboration among stakeholders, such as entrepreneurs in the Philippines, Filipino American entrepreneurs, and Filipino producers and artisans who create sustainably sourced goods.
For more information contact: PTIC Silicon Valley at [email protected] or [email protected]. (PCGSF Release)
