Cebu, Philippines, November 2011 – Russian Honorary Consul Armi Lopez Garcia, President of the Philippine-Russian Business Assembly Inc. (PRBA) announced another fillip to expanding economic cooperation with the approval on November 9, 2011 by the Chamber of Commerce of a counterpart Russian Federation of the Russian-Philippine Business Council (RPBC).

The RPBC is the 68th business council created under the Russian Chamber of Commerce. The RPBC’s first act was to sign a memorandum of agreement with the Philippine-Russian Business Assembly (PRBA), its counterpart in the Philippines which was established in 2009.

Consul Armi Lopez Garcia welcomed “this historic memorandum of agreement between the RPBC and the PRBA…proof of the commitment of both countries to strengthen economic and cultural ties.” She expects this strategic alliance to translate to more tourists, more trade, and more investments from Russia. 

Georgi Petrov, vice president of the Russian Federation’s commercial and trade department, said “The RPBC will assist in the development and strengthening of mutually advantageous bilateral economic relations to businesses giving primary attention to medium-sized businesses.” 

Petrov said the formation of the RPBC – which falls on the 35th year of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries – was necessitated to take advantage of the growing trade and economic relations between Russia and the Philippines. Bilateral trade increased more than 80% in 2010, exceeding $713 million. He expects this to pass the $1 billion mark by end of 2011 with more Russian tourists, trade missions and investors coming to the Philippines. 

Russian investments in the fields of transport, communications, tourism, food, telecommunications, mining, energy and power, point to more vibrant economic relations in the future. 

Russia is an attractive and rich market for Philippine exports. Top Philippine exports to Russia in 2009 were desiccated coconut, carrageenan, lighters, personal care products, and banana chips. The Russian taste for foreign cars (2.5 million) points to new market for spare parts. There is strong demand for canned and fresh seafood products, fresh fruits, home decor, fashion accessories and furniture.

Today in ТПП the Russian Federation has passed constituent session of the Russian-Philippine business council (РФДС). Its chairman selects the president «Groups of companies the Spectrum», committee-man ТПП the Russian Federation on business in sphere of tourist, kurortno-recreational and hotel activity of Evgenie Konkol.

The Russian-Philippine business council became 68th business council created under the aegis of ТПП the Russian Federation. It will assist businessmen in development and strengthening of mutually advantageous bilateral economic relations. The basic attention will be given to small and average business as the large can quite force the way through.

Vice-president ТПП the Russian Federation George Petrov in the performance has noticed that the bilateral trade turnover lately has considerably increased, its growth in comparison with 2009 has exceeded 80 %, having made in 2010 1 млрд dollars. As to this year for the first half of the year it has exceeded 713 million dollars. It is expected that by the end of the year goods turnover between Russia and Philippines will pass for billion. 

Both states, George Petrov has noticed, communications, transport, tourism, agriculture are interested in attraction of investments, adjustment of cooperation in the field of power, telecommunications. It is assured that for the companies, made the decision to work in the Philippine market, all conditions will be created and that the contribution to it will bring created business council, George Petrov has underlined.

The first secretary of the third department of Asia the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia Olga Kharlamov has noticed that diplomatic relations between Russia and Philippines total 35 years and promote forward development of political contacts, fruitful interaction of two states in the various international organizations. It has expressed hope that business council will bring the contribution to strengthening of political contacts.

The expert of department of the countries ATR of department of Asia and Africa of Ministry of economic development and trade of Russia Natalia Kuchmanova has informed that in January – September, 2011 bilateral goods turnover has reached 1,3 млрд dollars. Thus the Russian export has made 1,62 млрд dollars, and import – 284 million As to export structure its basic share is necessary on mineral products and hardware.

The honourable consul of the Russian Federation in Republic Philippines, the president of Filippino-Russian business assembly Armi Lopez Garcia has supported development of mutually advantageous cooperation and strengthening of relations at all levels. It has presented presentation of Philippines, its tourist potential and has told about activity of the business assembly directed on consolidation of the Russian-Philippine contacts.

Evgenie Konkol, having informed collected about prime actions of business council, has thanked ТПП the Russian Federation for the help and assistance in its creation. It has expressed confidence that РФДС becomes a system platform for development of multilateral business ties which will be directed on achievement of concrete results. Finally РФДС becomes not formal body, and well working, harmonious mechanism, she has underlined.

Within the limits of session has passed signing of the Memorandum of cooperation between the Russian-Philippine business council and the Filippino-Russian business assembly. Signatures under the document directed on strengthening of mutually advantageous cooperation, have put Armi Lopez Garcia and Evgenie Konkol.

Andrey Gorodnov,
TPP-INFORM

http://tpp-inform.ru/analytic_journal/1761.html

For more photos, please visit:

http://www.rusphbc.ru/2011/11/91111_09.html

With global economic trends shifting, we believe it is worthwhile looking into new business and economic ties between our countries.

The PRBA has launched its information campaign via its international events; the Philippine-Russian Business Forum and Exhibition being its flagship activity. The Forum has attracted considerable attention in the global press, as well as created a buzz within the Philippine and Russian business chambers. Well-attended and now on its 3rd year, the Forum has helped to bridge the gap in information and understanding and encouraged business matching among Filipino and Russian delegates.

The Russians see the Philippines as a gateway to ASEAN and a hub for tourism and trade. Filipinos are interested in tapping the Russian market and exporting many Philippine  products that fulfill Russia’s trade requirements. As of today, the trade deficit between both countries is large; the Philippines is not exporting enough products to Russia and that is one aspect that the PRBA hopes to encourage.

Members of the PRBA can expect first access to such trade opportunities and more.

Here are some of the privileges that PRBA members will enjoy upon being accepted into the organization:

1) The latest business intelligence. Priority access to information and opportunities.

2) Building a power network. Priceless chance to meet key businesspeople from both Philippine and Russian circles.

3) Access to VIP events

4) Travel and trade opportunities

5) Be part of an international member’s listing. Build your company’s credibility.

6) Participation in business matching

7) Advertising and promotion

These, and many more, make it worthwhile to be a member of the PRBA.

To apply for membership, kindly fill up our membership inquiry form on the link below:

http://prbai.com/membership-form/

We look forward to hearing from you!

The PRBA is currently building its network and its membership. With now over 100 companies from both the Philippines and Russia and working with key government agencies and chambers of commerce from both countries, we hope to broaden our reach to a wider audience, and inform the public of our efforts to bridge the business gap between the Philippines and the Russian Federation.

The new website, www.prbai.com, is the perfect vehicle to go forward with our objectives to increase efficiency, hasten news dissemination, and keep our members well informed of the activities of our organization. The site is an important step forward in attracting new members, keeping the information exchange dynamic and interesting, improving transparency, and showing the identity of the PRBA to the world.

The PRBA is a global organization that has far-reaching impact and therefore what better way to go global than to be an active entity on the world wide web. The new site has clear and easy navigation, with links to news, the organization’s profile, events and business fora, companies, membership inquiry, and a contact form. The language is simple and direct, with a layout that brings the important things to your immediate attention.

All articles will soon be linked to major social networks such as Facebook and Twitter.  You will be able to share your favorite news updates on your respective social network accounts through a simple click of a button on the screen.

The site information is free and can be viewed by members and non-members. There are advertising opportunities and sponsored links.

Members can avail of the FREE sponsored links at the bottom of the page on a first come-first serve basis. Please contact the PRBA Secretariat in order to reserve a space for your company link. Members are also entitled to a 30% discount on all published web advertising rates.

Russian Ambassador Nikolay Kudashev, St. Petersburg Vice-Governor Igor Metelsky, Cebu Honorary Consul to Russia Armi Lopez Garcia, Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia, and Tourism Secretary Alberto Lim led the ceremonial unveiling of the bust created by Russian painter-sculptor Gregory Pototsky.

“This is the bust of the Great Ordinary Man who stayed and served ordinary men. Let’s live up to the mark and be closer to one another,” addressed Ambassador Kudashev.

Famous for his great novels “Anna Karenina” and “War and Peace, Tolstoy is a Russian nobleman who is also regarded as a courageous warrior of his time. 

The artist Pototsky, who recently donated a monument of the Russian poet Alexander Pushkin in Manila, commended the country for its interest in the culture and the arts of other nations especially Russia. 

“The Philippines will continue to become successful because they work hard and strive to learn,” said Pototsky in Russian. 

Governor Garcia expressed the appreciation of the province for the bust, which symbolizes the commitment of the Russian government’s sisterhood partnership.

Aside from the bust, Russian art and photo exhibit was formally opened last Thursday in line with the 2nd Philippine-Russian Business Forum and Exhibition. 

The 2nd Philippine-Russian Business Forum is organized by the Philippine Business Assembly Inc. and the Embassy of the Russian Federation in cooperation with the Province of Cebu and the Department of Tourism. 

The Philippine Exhibits and Themeparks Corp. is co-organizing the event in association with the City of Mandaue, Department of Trade and Industry, Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Cebu Business Club, Mandaue Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Cebu FAME, Cebu Furniture Industries Foundation and the Cebu Gifts, Toys, and Housewares (GTH).

“We are ready to promote Cebu as a tourist destination in St. Petersburg,” said Metelsky in Russian.

The move is targeted to strengthen the sisterhood partnership St. Petersburg recently forged with the province of Cebu last September. Cebu is the only sister province of St. Petersburg in the Philippines. The partnership is aimed at establishing cooperation in developing trade, culture, and education in both provinces. 

“In the future, we’re looking at having direct flights from St. Petersburg to Cebu,” said Metelsky. 

Department of Tourism (DOT) secretary Alberto Lim, who graced the event, welcomed the good news saying that it will further push Russia as an emerging tourist market for the Philippines.

Lim said that from 2006 to 2009, tourist arrivals from Russia posted an average growth of 53 percent, which is expected to increase with the bullish marketing efforts of DOT in Russia plus the promise of tourism promotion of Cebu by St. Petersburg. 

Moreover, Metelsky is also expecting Cebu to promote St. Petersburg to the Philippines.

“Our cities are tourism centers, which should bring us closer,” noted Metelsky saying that Cebu will also benefit from the tourism and transportation infrastructure projects currently being done in St. Petersburg. 

He also said that their government is also laying down the ground to have a levelled playing field for foreign direct investors. 

Cebu governor Gwendolyn Garcia, on the other hand, is confident on the commitments made by the Russian vice governor saying that it is a signal for both countries to make a genuine impact on the lives of their own people. 

The 2nd Philippine-Russian Business Forum is organized by the Philippine Business Assembly Inc. and the Embassy of the Russian Federation in cooperation with the Province of Cebu and the Department of Tourism. 

The Philippine Exhibits and Themeparks Corp. is co-organizing the event in association with the City of Mandaue, Department of Trade and Industry, Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Cebu Business Club, Mandaue Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Cebu FAME, Cebu Furniture Industries Foundation and the Cebu Gifts, Toys, and Housewares (GTH).

Unique nature and adventure tours are being lined up for the long-staying tourists, revealed two of Cebu’s leading travel agencies last Thursday during the event’s business forum on tourism.

“We are preparing exciting tours for Russian tourists. Tours that would immerse them to community-based tourism,” said Travel Vision president Jenny Franco.

Franco plans to bring Russians in Aloguinsan, an emerging eco-tourism destination located in the mid-western part of the province, where tourists can enjoy bird watching, banca river cruising, and organic gardening.

“It would be exciting for the tourists to see and experience how the community took care and preserved their environment,” said Franco.

Blue Horizons president Cecille Saa, on the other hand, eyes zipline adventure and botanical garden tours for the Russians to supplement the popular and attractive “sand, sun, and fun” travel packages for the European tourists.

Department of Tourism (DOT) Domingo Ramon Enerio, who joined the forum, commended the travel agencies planned tours, which offer a different kind of experience to foreign tourists.

He said that Cebu and other destinations needs to come up with tourism products that would make tourists spend more of their money.

“We should not limit ourselves to luring tourists to come here and just stay in our resorts. We should make them spend their dollars,” said Enerio.

The tourism business forum is just one of the six forums slated for this year’s Philippine-Russian Business Forum and Exhibition.

The four-day business forum will have sessions and roundtable discussions on education and culture; mining and energy; retirement facilities and real estate development; labor, placement and outsourcing; and trade promotion and development.

A one-on-one business matching and meeting between exhibitors and investors will also be conducted.

In cooperation with major export business groups, PRBFEX also has an exhibition of Cebu’s best products ranging from fashion accessories and houseware to designer clothes and furniture pieces.

The 2nd Philippine-Russian Business Forum is organized by the Philippine Business Assembly Inc. and the Embassy of the Russian Federation in cooperation with the Province of Cebu and the Department of Tourism.

The Philippine Exhibits and Themeparks Corp. is co-organizing the event in association with the City of Mandaue, Department of Trade and Industry, Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Cebu Business Club, Mandaue Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Cebu FAME, Cebu Furniture Industries Foundation and the Cebu Gifts, Toys, and Housewares (GTH).

Photo Credit: Aloguinsan River Eco-Cultural Tours

St. Petersburg vice governor Igor Metelskiy heads the delegation composed of Russian government officials, private travel group leaders, and members of the press.

Metelskiy is expected to give the keynote speech today and specifically lay down the trade opportunities between the two countries more particularly between Cebu and St. Petersburg.

The two provinces signed a sisterhood partnership last September. Cebu is the only province in the Philippines to have successfully forged a sisterhood agreement with St. Petersburg, which is the second largest and progressive city in Russia next to Moscow.

About 400 local and international delegates are expected to attend the business and exhibition forum, which is also participated by two other major cities in Russia namely Moscow and Vladivostok.

“This year’s event promises to be a useful venue for prestigious business groups to network and explore opportunities that will expand trade and investments between the two countries,” said Russian ambassador to the Philippines Vitaly Vorobiev.

The business forum will have business sessions and roundtable discussions on mining and energy; education and culture; tourism and wellness; labor, placement, and outsourcing; retirement facilities, and real estate development; and trade promotion and development.

A one-on-one business matching and meeting between exhibitors and investors will also be conducted.

Exhibit

In cooperation with major export business groups, the four-day event will throw a grand exhibition of Cebu’s best products rangng from ranging from accessories and housewares to designer clothes and furniture pieces.

The groups include the Cebu Gifts, Toys, and Houseware Manufacturers and Exporter Foundation Inc. (Cebu-GTH), the Cebu Fashion Accessories Manufacturers and Exporters Foundation (Cebu FAME), the Fashion Council of Cebu (FCC), and the Cebu Furniture Industries Foundation, Inc. (CFIF).

Aside from the trade exhibition, an art show, photo exhibit, and cultural dance presentations will also highlight the event.

The art show will display masterpieces from Gregory Pototsky of Russia and his students while the photo exhibit will have 160 pictures of “Philippines and Russia Insights” from 20 Russian photographers, four photographers from Manila, and six from Cebu.

The 2nd Philippine-Russian Business Forum is organized by the Philippine Russian Business Assembly Inc. and the Embassy of the Russian Federation in cooperation with the Province of Cebu and the Department of Tourism.

The Philippine Exhibits and Themeparks Corp. is co-organizing the event in association with the City of Mandaue, Department of Trade and Industry, Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Cebu Business Club, Mandaue Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Cebu FAME, Cebu Furniture Industries Foundation, and the Cebu Gifts, Toys and Housewares (GTH).

Supporting the four-day affair are the Cebu Energy Development Corp./Toledo Power Corp., CHI/Cebu Property Ventures & Development Corp., Hongkong Express, PLDT-SME, Smart, Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino, Pascual Consumer Health Care Corp.,Epson, Globis Inc., GNM Printing House/SciTechs Digital Solutions, Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office, Crimson Resort and Spa Mactan, Be Resorts Mactan, Ng Khai, Pelagos, Olimpe Capital, Gorizont Consulting Corp., Milkfish, Legwork Production & Promotions, Neo Manufacturing Services Inc./Glee Electronics, and San Remigio Pensionne Suites/Primemovers and PRWorks.

Sun.Star Online, Sun.Star Cebu, Business Mirror, Cebu Daily News, The Freeman, GMA-7, Philippine Graphic Magazine, Manila Bulletin, The Philippine Star, Alcordo Advertising, and Amazing Cebu G Channel, Kommersant, Luxe Magazine and PhotoTravel Magazine are the media partners of the 2nd Philippine Russian Business Forum and Exhibition.

Honorary Russian Consul Armi Lopez Garcia said the forum will open with the unveiling of the bust of Leo Tolstoy, a monument made by the famed Russian sculptor Grigory Pototsky who had already installed 55 monuments in several countries around the world. The Tolstoy bust is installed at the Cebu International Convention Center (CICC) International Park. The four-day PRBFEx 2010 will then commence at the CICC which was a summit venue of the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) in 2005. The bust of Leo Tolstoy or Count Lyev Nikolayevich Tolstoy is significant because he was a Russian writer considered by many as the world’s greatest novelist with his masterpieces “War and Peace” and “Anna Karenina” that represented in their scope, breadth and vivid depiction of 19th-century Russian life and attitudes, the peak of realist fiction. His ideas on nonviolent resistance, expressed in such works as The Kingdom of God Is Within You, were to have a profound impact on such pivotal twentieth-century figures as Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther King, Jr. The Philippines is known around the globe for the peaceful EDSA Revolution in 1986 that catapulted Cory Aquino, the widow of Filipino hero Benigno Aquino Jr., to the presidency. President Cory is the mother of incumbent President Benigno Aquino III. “The Tolstoy bust represents the stronger cultural relationship between the Filipino and Russian peoples,” said Consul Garcia. Pototsky arrived yesterday with wife Olga while some 39 other Russians led by Vice Governor Igor Metelsky of St. Petersburg, Russian Federation who is expected to talk on the PRBFEx theme of moving forward not only in the business, trade, investments, tourism, and the people-to-people relationships between the Philippines and Russia will arrive today. “The first Philippine-Russian business forum last year strengthened these ties. Now we are moving forward towards making the Philippines as an entry point for Russia’s efforts to develop its relationship with the rest of Asia,” said Consul Garcia. “As coordinator for the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) the Philippines is a strategic entry point to South East Asia and the rest of the region as we also develop broader regional relations between Asia and the Russian Federation,” she said.The second annual business forum between the two countries will set the stage for deepening economic engagements between the Russian Federation and Asia as businesses across both regions explore cross–‐border collaboration opportunities.

Tourism Secretary Alberto Lim and Cebu Gov. Gwen Garcia, along with Russian Federation Ambassador H.H. Nikolay Kudashev, will cut the ribbon to open the PRBFEx which serves as a business and networking platform bridging businesses across the Russian Federation, the Philippines, and Asia. Economic observers are looking forward to economic growth in Asia and Russia that will see both increasing their presence and weight in the global economy, said Consul Garcia. The 2nd Philippine-Russian Business Forum is organized by the Philippine Russian Business Assembly Inc. and the Embassy of the Russian Federation in cooperation with the Province of Cebu and the Department of Tourism. The Philippine Exhibits and Themeparks Corp. is co-organizing the event in association with the City of Mandaue, Department of Trade and Industry, Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Cebu Business Club, Mandaue Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Cebu FAME, Cebu Furniture Industries Foundation, and the Cebu Gifts, Toys and Housewares (GTH).

Supporting the four-day affair are the Cebu Energy Development Corp./Toledo Power Corp., CHI/Cebu Property Ventures & Development Corp., Hongkong Express, PLDT-SME, Smart, Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino, Pascual Consumer Health Care Corp.,Epson, Globis Inc., GNM Printing House/SciTechs Digital Solutions, Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office, Crimson Resort and Spa Mactan, Be Resorts Mactan, Ng Khai, Pelagos, Olimpe Capital, Gorizont Consulting Corp., Milkfish, Legwork Production & Promotions, Neo Manufacturing Services Inc./Glee Electronics, and San Remigio Pensionne Suites/Primemovers and PRWorks. Sun.Star Online, Sun.Star Cebu, Business Mirror, Cebu Daily News, The Freeman, GMA-7, Philippine Graphic Magazine, Manila Bulletin, The Philippine Star, Alcordo Advertising, and Amazing Cebu G Channel, Kommersant, Luxe Magazine and PhotoTravel Magazine are the media partners of the 2nd Philippine Russian Business Forum and Exhibition.

This was learned from Honorary Russian Consul Armi Lopez Garcia, who said that Luxe Magazine and Russian daily Kommersant will be sending their reporters and photojournalists for the event.

Luxe Interiors + Design Magazine is published worldwide and is the uncompromised source for those with passion for creating beautiful surroundings and living well.

It is the influential go-to guide that leads readers to discover and acquire resources for design, decorating, architecture, and renovation.

Luxe, curated for the affluent and sophisticated homeowner, is the only luxury publication that offers access to the architecture scene while covering design news and trends.

This international magazine, according to Garcia, will also be making a feature on Cebu and its furniture industry in particular.

Kommersant, on the other hand, is a daily Russian newspaper based in Moscow. The daily, which literally means “The Businessman,” is a commerce-oriented newspaper with a circulation of 131,000.

Kommersant, the first daily business newspaper in Russia, is also being printed and distributed in the United Kingdom since February of last year.

The editorial and technical staff of Kommersant consists of more than 800 people, while its readership exceeds one million.

A lot of popular mass media publications, both on line and print, and broadcasting companies in the Russian Federation are being created by people who originated from Kommersant.

The 2nd Philippine-Russian Business Forum is organized by the Philippine Russian Business Assembly Inc. and the Embassy of the Russian Federation in cooperation with the Province of Cebu and the Department of Tourism.

The Philippine Exhibits and Themeparks Corp. is co-organizing the event in association with the City of Mandaue, Department of Trade and Industry, Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Cebu Business Club, Mandaue Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Cebu FAME, Cebu Furniture Industries Foundation, and the Cebu Gifts, Toys and Housewares (GTH).

Supporting the four-day affair are the Cebu Energy Development Corp./Toledo Power Corp., CHI/Cebu Property Ventures & Development Corp., Hongkong Express, PLDT-SME, Smart, Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino, Pascual Consumer Health Care Corp.,Epson, Globis Inc., GNM Printing House/SciTechs Digital Solutions, Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office, Crimson Resort and Spa Mactan, Be Resorts Mactan, Ng Khai, Pelagos, Olimpe Capital, Gorizont Consulting Corp., Milkfish, Legwork Production & Promotions, Neo Manufacturing Services Inc./Glee Electronics, and San Remigio Pensionne Suites/Primemovers and PRWorks.

Sun.Star Online, Sun.Star Cebu, Business Mirror, Cebu Daily News, The Freeman, GMA-7, Philippine Graphic Magazine, Manila Bulletin, The Philippine Star, Alcordo Advertising, and Amazing Cebu G Channel, Kommersant, Luxe Magazine and PhotoTravel Magazine are the media partners of the 2nd Philippine Russian Business Forum and Exhibition.