For the first time, Philippine-based companies participated in the German Purchasers Initiative in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to find new buyers from the European country.

German-Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GPCCI) Head of Government Affairs and Data Protection Officer Yves Aguilos told the Philippine News Agency on Friday that 23 companies from the Philippines participated in German Purchasers Initiative in Southeast Asia which was held online.

He said this is the first time that the Philippines joined the initiative even it is already the third year that German businesses rolled out the event in ASEAN.

The 3rd Purchasing Initiative in ASEAN was launched last April 22. The online business matchmaking will be held until May 15, 2024.

“With initiatives like this, we advance our core goal of fostering partnerships between businesses in the Philippines and Germany. We are thrilled to witness the growing interest and participation from both sides and we eagerly support both German and Philippine businesses in facilitating mutual growth,” GPCCI president Marie Antoniette Mariano said in a statement.

GPCCI said this year’s Purchasing Initiative in the ASEAN was participated in by more than 120 participants, including 87 suppliers from the region and 27 buyers from Germany.

GPCCI added that this initiative aims to diversify Germany’s supply chain and establish 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,” GPCCI Executive Director Christopher Zimmer said.

“All this helps us to further elevate the Philippines’ presence and significance on the global stage,” Zimmer added.

The German Purchasers Initiative is a project under the market access program of the German Federal Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Action, aiming to reshape the landscape of trade between Germany and the ASEAN region.

The initiative is in collaboration with the GPCCI, the German Association of Supply Chain Management, Procurement and Logistics, and the German Chambers in ASEAN. (PNA)