PTIC Toronto Trade Commissioner Mario Tani in his opening remarks during the soft launch of the DTI SME Hub in Toronto last November 27, 2024
PTIC Toronto Trade Commissioner Mario Tani in his opening remarks during the soft launch of the DTI SME Hub in Toronto last November 27, 2024

The Philippine Trade and Investment Center (PTIC) in Toronto offered guests a taste of the Philippines’ culture and heritage at the soft launch of the DTI SME Hub in Toronto which featured festive flavors from the country’s Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), last November 2024. 

This flagship initiative by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Ma. Cristina Aldeguer-Roque aims to provide Philippine SMEs with a dedicated platform to showcase their finest offerings and facilitate business-to-business (B2B) transactions. 

Opening the event, PTIC Toronto Trade Commissioner Mario Tani remarked, “The soft launch of the DTI SME Hub in Toronto represents a significant step by the DTI, in its mission to promote globally the export ready products of our SMEs.” 

Recognizing the 1-million-strong Filipino community in Canada, PTIC Toronto envisions this Hub as a regular platform for introducing Philippine products and services, forging new partnerships, and generating collaborative ideas that will strengthen economic ties between the Philippines and Canada. 

The event welcomed over 100 guests from the Filipino-Canadian and Canadian business community, who enjoyed free-flowing Project Beans Barako and Arabica coffee, alongside freshly made Ferino’s bibingka and puto bumbong. Guests were further treated to The Purple Bakeshop’s ube cake, Mineral’s espresso martini made with Project Beans Arabica coffee, and Casa Manila’s longganisa tacos. Toronto and Mississauga-based partner establishments also shared their enthusiasm in making these products more accessible through special menus and offerings. 

The Hub’s strategic placement within the Philippine Consulate General (PCG) in Toronto benefits from the daily foot traffic of Filipinos availing of consular services, ensuring that every visitor becomes a potential ambassador for Philippine products, amplifying their reach in the Canadian mainstream market. 

The successful soft launch of the Hub was made possible through collaboration with the PCG in Toronto headed by Consul General Angelica C. Escalona together with Deputy Consul General Kerwin Orville C. Tate, and with the support of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce in Toronto President Von Canton and Vice President Julian Baricuatro, and Bank of China President and CEO, Mr. Jun Deng. 

The DTI through its PTICs remains steadfast in its commitment to fostering strategic partnerships to further enhance market opportunities for Philippine brands in the global market. ♦

The variety of products featured during the soft launch of the DTI SME Hub.
The variety of products featured during the soft launch of the DTI SME Hub.

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Date of Release: February 20, 2025

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