Philippines launches showroom to boost global reach of Filipino goods
Philippine Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Cristina A. Roque, center, poses with business and government officials at the inauguration ceremony of the DTI SME Showroom in Seoul, Wednesday. Also in attendance, from left, are Commercial Counsellor Charmaine Mignon Yalong, Philippine Ambassador to Korea Maria Theresa B. Dizon-De Vega, DTI Assistant Secretary Judilyn S. Quiachon and Philippine Department of Tourism Attache Erwin F. Balane. Courtesy of Embassy of Philippines in Seoul
In a strategic push to expand the global footprint of Filipino products and small businesses, Philippine Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Cristina A. Roque inaugurated the DTI SME Showroom in Seoul Wednesday.
The initiative, aligned with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s vision for a globally competitive and inclusive “Bagong Pilipinas,” is designed to provide a permanent platform to showcase export-ready goods and foster international partnerships for Philippine small and medium enterprises.
“This launch is a concrete step towards bringing Filipino products and small and medium enterprises closer to the global market,” Roque said in her keynote address. “It is a message to the world that the Philippines is ready, our enterprises are capable and our products deserve a place on the global stage.”
Roque added that the showroom breaks geographical barriers for local entrepreneurs and helps build the trust international buyers seek. “We are making it easier for the world to do business with the Philippines — one city, one showroom, one export deal at a time,” she said.
The Seoul showroom features a rotating selection of high-quality, export-ready products, ranging from handmade textiles and crafts to innovative food and beverage items. The curated collection aims to reflect the creativity and craftsmanship of Filipino entrepreneurs.
The opening ceremony was attended by Philippine Ambassador Maria Theresa Dizon-De Vega, Commercial Counsellor Charmaine Mignon Yalong and Tourism Attache Erwin Balane, along with Korean partners and business leaders. Roque thanked the Philippine Department of Tourism in Korea and the Philippine Embassy for providing logistical and operational support.
“This synergistic collaboration is a true representation of the Philippines’ whole-of-nation approach to more effectively and efficiently promote the Philippines as a business and tourist destination of choice,” Roque said.
The Seoul showroom marks the second of its kind launched by the DTI’s Competitiveness and Innovation Group, following the inaugural showroom in Tokyo in 2024. Both are flagship projects under the “Malikhaing Pinoy” program, which seeks to elevate Filipino creativity and innovation to international markets.
“We warmly invite you to explore the showroom and experience firsthand the excellence, reliability and heart that go into every Filipino product,” Roque said, encouraging further engagement from Korean partners and global buyers.