Exporters Invited to Join Fair in Russia

Cebu’s food exporters could have their products exhibited in a Produk Trade Show in Russia next year.

In his trip to Moscow last Sept. 26 to Oct. 5, Governor Hilario P. Davide III secured the invitation for local food exporters to participate in the trade show.

The business sector members who joined the governor’s trip to Russia were Jocelyn Del Rosario, business center manager of RCBC Savings Bank-Cebu; Ma. Blesilda Nemenio, consultant of RCBC Savings Bank-Cebu; Charles Sy, chief executive officer of Llama Construction and Development Corp.; and Jimmy Sy, chief operating officer of Llama Construction; Ceasar Atienza, director of Phil-Russian Business Assembly Inc. and consultant of Asian Development Bank; and Lito Maderazo, president of Mactan Rock Industries Inc. and past president of Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Tatiana Legchilina, representative of Russian Federation Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said the prospect of Philippine food in the Russian market is high.

The event will be held in February next year. Legchilina also committed the chamber’s readiness to help facilitate contacts and cooperation among the business communities of Cebu and other regions of the Russian Federation.

In a roundtable discussion with the businessmen in Moscow, the Cebu delegation was able to present the province’s tourism potentials through an audio-visual presentation.

Davide also generated the interest of some Russian companies to explore economic opportunities with business leaders in Cebu.

These companies are engaged in financing, construction materials, aviation, solid waste management, and fashion industries.

Davide appreciated the assistance extended by the Russian-Philippines Business Council (RPBC) in providing the access between the Russian and Philippine business communities.

The governor was able to meet with Ilyas Umakhanov, deputy chairman of the Federal Assembly, and officials of Council of the Federation of the Russian Federation in Moscow.

Umakhanov was glad that much has been done in the political and economic relationship between Russia and Philippines. He was appreciative of the establishment of a Russian Corner in the University of San Carlos in Cebu.

Russian Honorary Consul to the Philippines Armi Lopez-Garcia also highlighted the creation of a Russian language training course for front-line tourism officials in Cebu and Bohol. There was also a plan to offer Russian language course for students of several universities in Cebu.

Davide’s visit to Russia started in St. Petersburg, with whom Cebu, through the previous leadership, inked a friendship agreement in 2009.

The parties agreed to form a joint committee to formulate an action plan on the areas of cooperation stated in its memorandum of agreement.

St. Petersburg’s Georgy Poltavchenko will visit Cebu next year to sign the action plan.

Davide also met Carlos Sorreta, Philippine Ambassador to Russia in Moscow. He was assured by the Embassy’s support to the program and projects in the action plan.

www.cebu.gov.ph