The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), through its Export Marketing Bureau (EMB), Foreign Trade Services Corps (FTSC), and the Philippine Investment Trade Center (PITC) in Mexico will set up a webinar for local exporters to develop trade relations with countries in Latin America, particularly Mexico, Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, and Chile.

The DTI webinar entitled “Philippine Export Opportunities in Latin America” will be held on July 28 via Zoom, from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. DTI-EMB director Senen Perlada notes that Latin America has over 600 million consumers. This presents an opportunity for Philippine fast-moving consumer exports such as processed food and personal care products.

“The webinar is an ideal opportunity for companies interested in doing business in Latin America. For beginners as well as experienced companies, it is useful to connect to stakeholders in the field and gain important information on how to do business with and in Latin America,” says Perlada.

Some of the topics include Chilean market opportunities and overview, business opportunities in the natural and organics sector trading with Amazon Online in Mexico, and business opportunities in Brazil and Argentina. The panelists will include Philippine ambassadors and industry leaders in Latin America such as Gerardo Velasco, president of Chile-ASEAN Chamber of Commerce, and Eduardo Aviles, director of Bionutrients International.

“This activity is a means of reintroducing Philippine business to Latin America. Several centuries ago, the galleon trade was the first means of global commerce that enabled cross-continental trade from Asia to Mexico and the rest of New Spain,” says DTI Foreign Trade Service officer Vichael Angelo Roaring.

“Now, we are challenged to reinvigorate our trade links with this region as our country, because of the culture and history we share with this region, is a very ideal trade partner for Mexico and the rest of Latin America,” adds Roaring, who also heads PITC Mexico and serves as commercial counselor in the Philippine Embassy in Mexico.

Those who are interested may reach out to DTI-EMB’s market officer for Latin America Gina Yap at [email protected].