Philippine Asian News Today Vol 21 No 2 | Page 14

14 PHILIPPINE ASIAN NEWS TODAY January 16 - 31, 2019 INTERNATIONAL AND LOCAL COMPANIES URGED TO JOIN IFEX PHILIPPINES 2019 Toronto, Canada – Canadian traders/buyers and exhibitors are enjoined to sign up for the upcoming IFEX Philippines 2019 on 24-26 May 2019 at the World Trade Center (WTC) in Pasay City. The three-day event welcomes international and local companies to tap the rising global demand for premium and quality food products from different regions across the globe, including North and South America, Europe, East Asia, the Middle East, Southeast Asia, Australia and many more. Twelve different food sectors will be featured in the event, namely (1) seafood and marine products; (2) alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages; (3) coffee, herbal teas and cocoa; (4) fresh and processed seafood; (5) fruits and vegetables; (6) grains, cereals and commodities; (7) herbs and spices; (8) meat and poultry; (9) natural, healthy and organic products; (10) bakery and confectionery; (11) specialty, ethnic and gourmet products; and (12) other allied industries. With a reputation as an internationally recognized food trade show for Asian food brands and ingredients, IFEX Philippines continues to be the leading export platform for international and local companies to strategically position themselves to have a better leverage with the event’s exhibits, seminars, networking and business-matching activities. According to Senior Trade Commissioner Maria Roseni Alvero of the Philippine Consulate General- Toronto (PCG-Toronto) Trade Office, foreign buyers who participate in IFEX Philippines 2019 can qualify as a Very Important Buyer (VIB) and avail of incentives such as airfare subsidy (with a cap) and hotel accommodation for 2-night stay. For further information, please contact Ms. Roselle Corro of the PCG-Toronto Trade Office via e- mail at [email protected] or through telephone number at (416) 855 1777, or visit the website of IFEX Philippines at www.ifexphilippines.com. Mayor McCallum advances Municipal priorities with the Federal Government SURREY, BC – At today’s Big Cities Mayors’ Caucus (BCMC) in Ottawa, Mayor Doug McCallum and the mayors of Canada’s largest cities met with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and key members of cabinet to highlight the needs of municipalities and the importance of investing in cities prior to the 2019 Federal Budget. “Municipal government has the most impact on the everyday lives of our citizens,” said Mayor McCallum. “That is why it is so important that we continually strengthen the partnership between the federal government and Canada’s cities. When local expertise is leveraged, the quality of life for residents served by all levels of government increases.” A full day of meetings took place between the Federation of Canadian Municipalities’ Big City Mayors’ Caucus and senior federal cabinet members, including Prime Minister Trudeau, Infrastructure and Communities Minister François Philippe Champagne, Intergovernmental Affairs, Northern Affairs and Internal Trade Minister Dominic LeBlanc, and Finance Minister Bill Morneau. The BCMC Mayors stressed that the federal-municipal partnership requires modernization that starts with bringing orders of government together at one table to tackle national challenges. This does not require a constitutional amendment, but common sense and political will in Budget 2019. Further recommendations for the upcoming budget focused on empowering municipalities to continue building better lives for Canadians without interruption. This WWW.PHILIPPINEASIANNEWSTODAY.COM includes a permanent and direct funding mechanism for public transit, so cities can reduce commute times, improve environmental outcomes, and provide the infrastructure required for modern cities. Mayors also called for improved support to protect Canadians from the effects of climate change, such as flooding and wild fires, through additional funding for disaster mitigation and adaptation. For more information on FCM’s Budget 2019 recommendations, visit: www.fcm.ca/en/resources/critical- time-deliver-canadians.