LINGAYEN, Pangasinan–A newly-organized group of local producers disclosed plans of sending its products to the Los Angeles International Trade Fair two months before it begins in October.

Handicrafts and native delicacies such as fish paste and fish sauce, mangoes, and milkfish from the newly-established Pangasinan Producers Association (PPA) will be sent to buyers participating in the Diversity Business Exposition, which will be held in Los Angeles, California on October 3-4, 2014.

Several importers have expressed willingness to buy Philippine-made products, particularly those from the province, said Eddie Ferrer, president of the Pangasinan Brotherhood-United States of America (PBUSA), who is also part of the PPA.

Last Monday, the PPA met with the PBUSA, the Task Force for Business and Stability Operations of the US Defense Department, and the Technical Working Group (TWG) for Product Development and Export Promotion to smoothen all issues regarding the upcoming international trade fair.

According to provincial administrator Rafael Howard Baraan, who is also the chairman of the TWG, Governor Amado Espino Jr. is very excited about the trade fair, which he considers as another event that makes the Pangasinense family “an independent production unit, a self-reliant family where every head of household can claim that indeed Pangasinan is the best place to invest, work, live, and raise a family.”

The Diversity Business Exposition, an international business and trade fair, will be participated in by the Philippines–including Pangasinan–and 13 other developing countries.

In September 2013, the PBUSA led by Ferrer led a a Trade-Product Sourcing and Manufacturing Seminar for local producers and manufacturers in Pangasinan.

Possible trade link with Afghanistan

Meanwhile, Jan Lam Ho of the Task Force for Business and Stability Operations of the US Defense Department, said the task force has partnered with the PBUSA after they learned that they have parallel goals for trade and commerce particularly involving developing nations.

She noted the strong potential of reciprocative trade relation, specifically between Afghanistan and Philippines, Pangasinan in particular.

“Our visit here was to link the trade and commerce of Afghanistan…as it’s very difficult for the Afghan people to bring their products outside of their neighboring countries,” she said, noting that they also want to see what Pangasinan products to send to Afghanistan.

She disclosed that Afghan products of export quality include marble and pharmaceutical bandages.

Lam Ho, “a long lost daughter” of Pangasinan (her father is a Dagupeño) expressed her admiration for the “very pristine and beautiful province” which she came to visit for the first time. – Johanne R. Macob

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