In the geographic center of North America, in the City of Winnipeg, Manitoba, the 4th Edition of Centrallia opened its doors on 25 May 2016 as it welcomed the first-ever Philippine delegation to the renowned business networking forum.
The Philippine trade mission joined over 700 businesses and organizations from over 30 countries to the three-day event. The delegation is led by Mme. Pamela Pascual, Senior Vice President and General Manager of World Trade Center Philippines, and Mr. Senen Perlada, Director of the Export Management Bureau of the Department of Trade and Industry of the Philippines. Mr. Perlada is also the Executive Director of the Philippine Export Development Council (EDC). Also joining the mission is the Hon. Christopher Lawrence Arnuco, Chair and Administrator of the Zamboanga Economic Zone and Freeport Authority. The mission was also made possible in collaboration with the Manitoba Filipino Business Council (MFBC) headed by Hipolito Alibin, Jr.
Ambassador Petronila P. Garcia welcomed the delegation together with other members of Team Philippines in Canada including Consul General Rose Prospero and Consul Shirley Banquicio from Toronto, Consul General Eric Gerardo Tamayo from Ottawa, Trade Representative John Paul Iñigo from New York, and Consul (Honorary) Ronald Opina of Winnipeg.
Joining the World Trade Center Manila, the DTI-EMB, and the Zamboanga Ecozone are the Philippine Retirement Authority, the Philippines Tourism Promotions Board, the Office of the Mayor of Zamboanga City, Elemie Naturals Inc., Mindanao Pearl Center, ISS-I Intelligent Storage Solutions, and BCG Basketcase Trading.
Centrallia is geared towards getting businesses together and facilitating connections and new partnerships across global markets. Participants also benefit from the workshops and seminars conducted by international trade experts and other world-class keynote speakers. The keynote speaker for this year Dr. Gerald Durley, widely respected as a leader in the civil rights movement and head of Perspectives International. Dr. Durley exhorted everyone to "get out of the box."
Among the highlights of Centrallia is the massive speed dating model for small businesses -- 30-minute, pre-arranged business meetings. According to Mariett Mulaire, Chief Executive officer of World Trade Center Winnipeg, Centrallia serves to help small businesses establish international business connections.
At a welcome reception for the delegates organized by the MFBC, Ambassador Garcia wished the delegates the best for the success in their networking endeavors. She acknowledged the importance placed by Canada in developing its central gateway - the trimodal Centreport. She noted that the Philippine presents itself as an ideal gateway to the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC).
Total trade between the Philippines and Canada in 2015 stood at C$2.1 Billion. Exports of the Philippines to Canada for the year reached a total of C$1.4 Billion, while imports from Canada was at C$751 million. END