PH Local Coconut Export Industry in the 1st China International Import Expo

Dubbed as the “Tree of Life,” coconut trees serve many uses in cooking, medicine and even beauty products in the Philippines. This paved the way to a $1.46 billion export industry dedicated solely to coconut oil.

Companies such as Mr. William T. Guido’s Team Asia Corporation were instrumental in developing the Philippine coconut industry to what it is today. For more than 40 years, Team Asia continues to supply organic and all-natural products to both its local and international markets. They specialize in manufacturing coconut-based products such as virgin coconut oil (VCO) and VCO-based products, as well as refined bleached deodorized coconut oil, coconut sugar, coconut milk powder and coconut honey.

Team Asia’s 3,000-hectare coconut farm takes pride in its GMO-free (genetically modified organisms) and pesticide-free products. They use fresh, matured coconuts harvested from high-quality organic farms which are certified by both the USDA (United States Department of Agriculture) and OFDC (Odisha Forest Development Corporation). The farms also provide local farmers from Cebu, Luzon and Davao a source of livelihood. In order to be considered export-ready, Team Asia made sure that their products are organic, HALAL and KOSHER-certified for their products to be highly recognized and preferred in the United States, Europe, Japan, China, the Middle East and other international markets.

Motivated by a mission to become a leader in providing all-natural wellness and specialty food products in the Chinese market, Team Asia joined the participation of the Department of Trade and Industry’s export trade promotions agency, the Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions (DTI-CITEM), in China’s very first trade expo that is exclusive to foreign exports – the China International Import Expo (CIIE).

Team Asia’s partnership with CITEM goes way back to its early participation in the China-ASEAN Expo (CAEXPO) which earned them recognition as one of the companies with the best-selling products. They earned $2.76 M for their Raw Virgin Coconut Oil and RBD (refined, bleached and deodorized) Coconut Oil together with their affiliate, Tropicana Food Products during their participation in the Nanning-based trade expo. “We collaborate with CITEM every year as we participate in CAEXPO, and I find the results highly encouraging,” Mr. Guido notes on the support CITEM gives to the companies participating in the Chinese trade expos.

Seeing the benefits of joining CAEXPO strengthened Mr. Guido’s confidence in the CIIE’s potential in helping Team Asia further establish itself in the Chinese market. “China is a very exciting and rapidly growing market, so it’s only fitting that we join CIIE to further capitalize on this opportunity,” Mr. Guido stated.

He then goes on to elaborate his motivations for joining China’s very first trade expo which will feature only foreign exhibitors. “It will really be a key opportunity since CIIE will be able to pave the way for us to further work with the Chinese community,” he said.

Mr. Guido’s attention to details helped Team Asia win numerous awards such as Best Coconut Oil Products Brand (Golden Globe Annual Awards for Business Excellence 2014), Best Coconut-Based Products Provider (Golden Globe Annual Awards for Business Excellence 2016), SuperCoco 2014 Organic Quality Awardee Outstanding Organics Products (35th People’s Choice Excellence Awards 2014) and Best Exhibitor Award. They were also hailed as one of the best-selling products during the 2017 CAEXPO.

Team Asia is just one of the many Philippine companies that heeded CITEM’s initiative to introduce local products to the Chinese market in the very first CIIE. The invitation was given by the People’s Republic of China to DTI Secretary Ramon M. Lopez, through Minister of Commerce (MOFCOM) Zhong Shan.

The Philippine participation in the CIIE was organized by the Department of Trade and Industry through its attached agencies like the Export Marketing Bureau (EMB), the Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions (CITEM), Foreign Trade Service Corps (FTSC), Philippine Trade and Investment Center – China (PTIC-China) and the Philippine Board of Investments (BOI). The event was organized in partnership with the Department of Agriculture (DA), Tourism Promotions Board (TPB), Department of Science and Technology (DOST), Commission on Higher Education (CHED), the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI), Bank of China (BOC), Federation of Filipino-Chinese Chambers of Commerce & Industry, Inc. (FFFCCI), Integrated Development Studies Institute (IDSI), Anvil Business Club and the Philippine Airlines.

It seeks to help local companies showcase the country’s best trade practices and products to China’s 1.4 billion consumer market.