The second secretary and consul for the Philippine embassy in Pretoria, Joselito Jacinto, says logistics links between the two countries need to be strengthened in order to promote trade.
Speaking to FTW Online during a bilateral business meeting at the JCCI in Milpark, Jacinto said business between South Africa and the Philippines was curving upwards, but could be stronger if the freight sector worked harder to overcome trade lane obstacles.
“The distance between our countries is the biggest impediment to stronger trade, but we are confident that as imports and exports between our countries improve we will start seeing an improvement in freight between the Philippines and South Africa.”
Jacinto said South Africa was the preferred access point for the Philippines into sub-Saharan Africa and that besides trade routes via Dubai, entry points like Durban represent the main artery of commerce linking his country with the continent.
“South Africa is our biggest trading partner in Africa and we are keen to develop even stronger relations, particularly with the view of leveraging off the strategic position of South Africa in relation to SADC markets.”
Jacinto also mentioned that growing trade with South Africa had resulted in a Philippine snack manufacturer, Limay Limay, setting up shop in Centurion in 2017.
And yet despite the Philippines exporting $199m worth of products to South Africa last year, the government of Rodrigo Duterte believes it could be much stronger.
It was furthermore added that South Africa’s exports to Philippines in 2017, totalling $56.32m, could be considerably more.
Senen Perlada from the Export Marketing Bureau in Makati City in the Philippines, told delegates “I am sure that beyond all the handshakes and the speeches there will be business today.”
