THE German-Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GPCCI), together with the German Association of Supply Chain Management (BME) and other German chambers in the ASEAN, are pursuing a major initiative to connect German companies with potential suppliers across Southeast Asia.
The project “German Purchasers Initiative” falls under the market access program of Berlin’s Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Action.
It aims to revitalize trade relations between Germany and the ASEAN region.
“With initiatives like this, we advance our core goal of fostering partnerships between businesses in the Philippines and Germany,” said GPCCI president Marie Antoniette Mariano.
Launched on April 22, the initiative recorded the highest participation rate of any German purchasing initiative in the ASEAN to date.
More than 120 participants attended, featuring 87 potential suppliers from Southeast Asia and 27 German companies seeking new sourcing partners.
German stakeholders underscored the increasing demand for a diversified supply chain and the importance of establishing reliable partnerships in the ASEAN.
“We are delighted to continue the momentum between our countries, the Philippines and Germany, following the presidential visit in March and the resumption of the EU-FTA [European Union-Free Trade Agreement] talks. All these help us to further elevate the Philippines’ presence and significance on the global stage,” said GPCCI executive director Christopher Zimmer.
With the support of the Department of Trade and Industry, the initiative encouraged Philippine manufacturers to participate in B2B meetings. This provided a valuable platform for suppliers to showcase their products, facilities and expertise directly to German buyers.
Despite the time difference between the Philippines and Germany, over 21 meetings have been conducted smoothly so far, generating positive feedback from both sides.