GPCCI President Marie Antoniette Mariano and Executive Director Christopher Zimmer acknowledged CITEM’s longstanding membership and emphasized the value of closer collaboration. GPCCI’s Head of Government Affairs and Data Protection Officer, Mr. Yves Aguilos, encouraged CITEM to maximize the Chamber’s advocacy initiatives and events as part of its membership benefits.
Exec. Dir. Ocampo outlined CITEM’s interest in expanding its portfolio in electronics, sustainability, mobility, and the creative industries. She underscored the role of private-sector partnerships in broadening CITEM’s reach and impact.
Mr. Michael Schiele of Railway and Industrial Applications Corporation (RIAC) introduced InnoTrans, a premier transport technology exhibition featuring 3,000 exhibits and 20,000 participants, with strong engagement from global industry leaders. He stressed the importance of Philippine participation to strengthen the country’s railway sector and attract international funding. Ms. Gina Dilay of Jadphil & Associates Inc. highlighted the need for government support through PEZA and CITEM to elevate local industries. She and Mr. Schiele also emphasized the urgency of bolstering the Philippines’ global promotion efforts, given the significant investments made by neighboring Southeast Asian countries. GPCCI President Mariano echoed this, advocating for a holistic promotional strategy integrating infrastructure and tourism.
Exec. Dir. Ocampo acknowledged the strategic value of InnoTrans but noted the need for further assessment. She suggested engaging the Philippine Embassy in Berlin, the Department of Transportation, and the Department of Tourism for potential participation. On policy advocacy, Ms. Dilay underscored the necessity of a dedicated freight railway line to enhance trade and logistics efficiency, which Ocampo supported, recommending collaboration with the Board of Investments (BOI) for policy backing.
GPCCI Head of Chamber Services Kat Rodriguez-Reyes presented Spielwarenmesse, the world’s largest toy fair, highlighting Filipino company Hansa Creation Inc.’s 20-year participation. CITEM expressed interest in further exploring the fair. She also introduced Mabuhay Germany™, a GPCCI-led event in partnership with the German Embassy Manila, set to merge business-to-business (B2B) and business-to-customer (B2C) elements in 2025. Exec. Dir. Ocampo saw this as an opportunity to engage German firms in food, IPECS, and sustainability solutions at Manila FAME.
CITEM inquired about GPCCI’s promotional platforms, to which Aguilos and Rodriguez-Reyes highlighted the German-Philippine Business Insight (GPBI) and GPCCI’s monthly newsletters as avenues for showcasing trade fair participation and industry activities.
The meeting concluded with both organizations reaffirming their commitment to strengthening collaboration. Future efforts will focus on deepening government engagement, enhancing promotional strategies, and exploring new opportunities to elevate the Philippines’ global trade and investment presence.
