Paris, France (19 October 2016) – The Philippine Trade and Investment Center in Paris (PTIC-Paris) in partnership with the Office of the Philippine Ambassador to France hosted a business matching – cocktail reception (dinatoire) event for the Philippine food exporters participating in France’s top food event – the Salon Internationale de l’Alimentation (SIAL).

The event, held at the Official Residence of the Philippine Ambassador to France, was an opportunity for delegates from most of the twenty (20) companies that represented the Philippines at the SIAL International Food Exhibition, and seventeen (17) representatives from nine (9) food-buying entities in France, including retail accounts, distributors, wholesalers and importers to be introduced to one another.

SIAL delegate and Bicol Head of Delegation for a Paris Business Mission DTI Regional Director Joy Blanco of Region V chats with a representative from Ecoidees, an importer of coconut products in France as the latter tries on banana chips served in golden cones conceptualized by CITEM.

A representative from Galeries Lafayette, a high-end retail store in Paris, joins Philippine Consul General Aileen Mendiola-Rau in sampling out the French-Filipino fusion food served during the dinner.

Ambassador Ma. Theresa P. Lazaro (fourth from right) is joined by CITEM Assistant Division Chief Chato Liwanag (in yellow), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Regional Director Joy Blanco (3rd from right), Ms. Julieta Acierto of the Design Center of the Philippines, Ms. Vanessa Hans of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of France in the PH (5th from right) and representatives from Galeries Lafayette, Sofredi, and Philippine company representatives from Business People, J. Emmanuel, Brown Sugar, and Pasciolco, during a cocktail networking reception held at the Ambassador’s Residence involving Philippine food exporters and French buyers and key accounts. The event coincided with the DTI-CITEM’s participation in the October 2016 Salon International de lÁlimentation (SIAL) held in Paris.

Philippine Ambassador to France Maria Theresa P. Lazaro (fourth from left) is joined during the FASHION PHILIPPINES launch at the Maison & Objet, by Ms. Hannah Oamil (third from left) of Mele+Marie, a fashion accessories design company in Cebu, and representatives from CITEM led by Ms. Katrina Pineda (leftmost), Head for the Buyer Marketing and Sales Team; Ms. Maria Dominique Rustia, (second from left) Project Manager for Fashion Philippines – September 2016; Consul General Aileen Mendiola-Rau (fourth from right); Ms. Chiqui Veneracion, Maison & Objet representative for the Philippines; Mr. Froilan Emil Pamintuan, Commercial Attache – Philippine Trade and Investment Center in Paris; and Mr. Eduardo Francisco, PTIC-Paris Trade Assistant.