DTI to showcase Filipino retail brands in Jakarta

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) is set to showcase Filipino retail brands at the “Lifestyle Philippines” event on June 10, 2016 at Shangri-La Hotel, Jakarta, Indonesia.

In a statement, Philippine Embassy Trade Representative Alma Argayoso said Lifestyle Philippines is a branding initiative led by the Philippine Trade and Investment Center (PTIC) in Jakarta, which aims to promote Philippine-made products in the Indonesian market.

“This initiative hopes to increase trade with Indonesia, which in 2015 stood at US$3.6 billion. The Philippines exported about US$628.27 million worth of goods and services to Indonesia, while the Indonesia had US$2.93 billion trade with its counterpart,” Argayoso said.

The event includes a fashion show that will feature Karimadon and Rusty Lopez, two iconic brands in the Philippines that have begun to create a following in Indonesia’s fashion-forward clientele market. Other brands that will be featured are Plains and Prints and Cruzzini Barong Tagalog.

Barong Batik, a known fashion innovation for many diplomats and dignitaries will also be exhibited at the said event. It is a fusion of Philippine barong and Indonesian batik designs into one.

Apart from apparel, the event will also feature potential Filipino food products for exports under the Flavor Philippines such as Goldilocks polvoron, Mama Sita’s sauces and mixes, Leslie’s snack products, Destileria Limtuaco’s spirits and liquors, and other artisanal food products such as dried fruits and nuts, jams and marmalade, bottled sardines, and chocolate dipped dried mangoes.

Moreover, hand-woven crafts will be featured under the special section, Woven Chic.  Indigenous textiles from the Philippines, traditional dresses, linens, and modern and traditional pieces of jewelry will be displayed for the Indonesian fashion-oriented consumers.

“The regional integration in ASEAN presents opportunities for Philippine companies to expand to Indonesia and other ASEAN markets, and we certainly would like to actively take part in supporting Philippine companies in their regional expansion. We look forward to make Filipino products more available in the Indonesian market, particularly since there are many Indonesians, having visited or studied in the Philippines, who look for our products,” Argayoso added.

The event will also highlight other Philippine products and services such as travel and tourism, educational services and pharmaceuticals.