For more than 20 years,The China International Fair for Investment and Trade (CIFIT)has been committed to building the bilateral investment promotion platform, the authoritative information release platform and the investment trend discussion platform. It has evolved into one of the most influential international investment events in the world.The Philippines, as the guest of honour for this CIFIT (9-11 September 2020), launched a video roundtable meeting betweenSecretary Ramon M. Lopezof the Philippine Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and enterprises representatives of Chinese mainland and Hong KongSARand a One-on-one video meeting withUndersecretary Ceferino S. Rodolfo of DTIin the morning of September 9th at the main venue of CIFIT in Xiamen. China Concrete and Cement-based Products Association (CCPA) was honoured being the representative with two member companies-Hangzhou HGA New Materials and Qingdao Hicorp Group Heavy Industry Technology Co., Ltd. to attend these two Video conferences.

Round Table on 9 September 2020

In the video roundtable meeting between Minister Ramon Lopez and business representatives, guests attended and delivered speeches as follows:H.E. Jose Santiago L. Sta. Romana, Ambassador of the Philippines to China,Secretary William D. Darof theDepartment of Agriculture,Secretary Alfonso G. Cusiof theDepartment of Energyand Commercial Counselor Mr.Glenn Peñaranda. Mr.Glennintroduced the attendees of both parties. A total of 12 Chinese companies attended the roundtable meeting and introduced their main businesses and their desires to explore the market in the Philippines respectively. Director Huang Ling of the Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Department of CCPA made introduction on behalf of the two member companies.

Secretary Ramon M. Lopez, Department of Trade and Industry

In his speech, Secretary Lopez of the Philippine Department of Trade and Industry put forward the ambitions of rebuilding the Philippines after the COVID-19, hoping to balance health and economy, thereby revitalizing business, investment, people's livelihood and domestic demand. Secretary Lopez emphasized that the Philippines has a strong economic foundation to address the novel coronavirus. The Philippine economy has grown 5.3 times since 2000 and 1.4 times since 2015. Secretary Lopez further pointed out that the current economic growth momentum of the Philippines is strong, with an average GDP growth rate of 6.6% in recent years. The Philippine government also promised to continuously improve the investment climate, continue to implement the Build -Build-Build projects, maximize the utilization of FATs and the GSPs, and empower production capacity to capture demand.China and Philippines is the partnership based on complementation，The Philippine Department of Trade and Industry welcomes member companies to invest and visit the Philippines.

Dr Xu Yongmo, Executive President of CCPA

In the subsequent one-on-one video meeting,Undersecretary Ceferino S. Rodolfo of DTIandDr Xu Yongmo, Executive President of CCPA had a in-depth discussion together.Vice Consul (Commercial) Mr. Mario Tani of thePhilippine Consulate General in Shanghai introduced the guests attending from the two sides. Dr Xu Yongmo briefly introduced that CCPAis the representative of concrete and cement-based materials industry, which is the largest industry within the Chinese building materials industry with annual output value of more than 2 trillion RMB according to the Chinese statistics. The industry can be divided into two categories, ready mixed concrete and precast concrete products.

Two companies that have strong willing to invest in the Philippines are recommended today. One of them is theQingdao Global Group Heavy Industry Technology Co., Ltd.which is the supplier of manufacture machinery for precast concrete and the other is Hangzhou HGA New Materials for Aerated Concrete products,it is also the domestic manufacturer of aerated concrete building materials with the longest history.Both are the leading companies in their fields.Dr. Xu expressed the hope that through the full assistance of the Philippine DTI, we can help our member companies find local partners and let our industry’s advanced technology, products and equipment enter the market of Philippines.UndersecretaryRodolfo of DTI enthusiastically answered the questions and concerns raised by the two companies.

Undersecretary Ceferino S. Rodolfo of DTI

The online video conference between the Philippine DTI and CCPA has achieved fruitful results. The two sides have deepened understanding and communication, as well as strengthened their determination and confidence in mutual cooperation.