India business roadshow to enhance India-PH partnerships in trade and beyond

CEBU CITY – Indian Ambassador to The Philippines, H.E. Shambhu S. Kumaran sees broader engagement in knowledge-driven area and a new phase in economic relations and collaboration in trade and beyond between India and the Philippines.

“India and the Philippines are getting closer by the day in its relationship, furthering more exciting collaborations with the volume of trade marking a new milestone with last fiscal year registered a trade volume in surplus of three billion US Dollars,” Amb. Kumaran said.

Amb. Kumaran added that both India and Philippines are young fast-growing democratic economies with immense potential for mutually beneficial collaboration and several Indian businesses across a range of sectors are already contributing to the positive growth story of the Philippines.

Amb. Kumaran told the Cebu media and content creators in a press conference on November 14 that the Embassy of India in Manila organizes business roadshows in different parts of the Philippines in partnership with the regional business chambers, city administration, and provincial government to explore opportunities for trade and investments and to generate awareness and apprise local Government, authorities, businesses and other stakeholders in the Philippines about the successes of Indian businesses. 

He bared that the India Business Roadshow-Cebu Edition on November 14-15 was organized in partnership with the Cebu Chamber of Commerce & Industry (CCCI) and the India Business Forum (IBF) Philippines Association Inc. at Radisson Blu Hotel in Cebu City.

IBF is a non-profit organization which acts as a think-tank to and voice of the Indian Businesses in the Philippines and the focal point for engagement with interested Philippines businesses with the aim of promoting India-Philippines bilateral economic relations.

The CCCI mobilized the participation of local businesses from the province and the IBF has mobilized participation from the Indian businesses across various sectors with more than 40 Indian businesses in selected sectors that participated in the roadshow to showcase their products and solutions.

In consultation with CCCI and IBF, the roadshow focused on prominent sectors that hold potential for partnership based on complementary strengths and comparative advantages such as in Agriculture, Energy & Infrastructure, Healthcare & Pharmaceuticals, IT- BPO/BPM & Innovative Tech Solutions, and Tourism.

Cebu Roadshow is a 2-Day event that included inter alia, moderated panel discussions, B2B meetings, presentations and showcasing by the participating Indian businesses, signing of an Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between CCCI and IBF and goodwill contribution by the Indian businesses.

To cap the Roadshow in the evening of November 15, both India and friends from the Philippines celebrated Diwali, followed by a cultural performance and gala dinner tasting Indian cuisine.

The India Business Roadshows have proven to be a practical means to further government to business and business to business engagements between India and the Philippines. 

It contributes to spreading awareness about business presence and expertise, showcasing of cutting-edge products and solutions, exchange of ideas and business concepts and strengthening existing and creating new connections for meaningful economic cooperation. (Photos: MBCNewman)