IBINIDA ng mga opisyal ng Pilipinas ang probinsiya ng Tarlac bilang “city of charm” ng bansa sa idinaos na 15th China-ASEAN Expo (CAEXPO), na nagbukas nitong nakaraang linggo sa Nanning International Convention and Exhibition Center (NICEC).

Sa kanyang talumpati sa harap ng mga Chinese investors, sinabi ni Department of Trade and Industry Undersecretary Nora Terrado na ang Tarlac ay isang “progressive and promising province that encapsulates in a single location a sustainable and globally competitive agriculture sector, industrial developments and attractive tourist destinations.”

Ipinagmalaki naman ni Tarlac Governor Susan Yap na bukod sa pangunahing producer ng asukal at bigas, maasahang probinsiya ang Tarlac na may matatag at globally competitive agriculture, industrial development at isang tourist destination.

“We hope to partner with you in developing harmonious cooperation between our countries. With your help, we shall be able to achieve global competitiveness linking business opportunity, eco-tourism, and investment promotion development for the progress of our country,” ani Yap.

Samantala, ipinakilala rin ni Terrado ang investment promotion agencies (IPA) ng Pilipinas sa expo—kabilang ang Bureau of Investment (BOI), Clark Development Corporation (CDC), Cagayan Economic Zone Authority (CEZA), Mt. Samat Flagship Tourism Enterprise Zone (FTEZ), Philippine Retirement Authority (PRA), Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA), at ang Tourism Infrastructure and Economic Zone Authority (TIEZA).

Mahigit 2,700 exhibitors mula sa ASEAN at China ang nakilahok sa expo na may temang “Jointly Building the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road Forging the China-ASEAN Community of Innovation.”

Ngayong taon, bahagi ng expo ang exhibition ng sampung bansa ng ASEAN at Tanzania, bilang special guest na bansa, sa larangan ng iba’t ibang produkto na nakasentro sa artificial intelligence, pagtatayo ng smart city, at pagsusulong ng proteksiyon sa kalikasan. Habang ang mga forum at mga programa ay nakatuon sa inobasyon.

Isang malaking hakbang naman ito para sa Pilipinas lalo’t ito ang pinakamalaki at agresibong delegasyon ng bansa—kung saan kabilang ang 70 kumpanya ng pagkain, home and fashion, services, at health and wellness sector.

Para kay Pauline Suaco-Juan, Executive Director ng Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions (CITEM), isang malaking hakbang ng pagsulong ang exhibit para sa mas maayos na ugnayan sa kalakalan at pamumuhunan sa pagitan ng Pilipinas at China, gayundin sa mga bansa sa Southeast Asia.

“It has always been a strategic platform to showcase what the Philippines can offer to the world from our lucrative investment packages to our premier export products from various sectors. These are among the many milestones that have made Philippine companies in the food and other sectors bullish on the renewed prospect in the Chinese market,” pahayag ni Suaco-Juan.