SEOUL, 9 March 2017 - Philippine Ambassador to Korea Raul S. Hernandez met on Thursday, 9 March 2017 with the top officials of the Korea Importers Association (KOIMA) in Seoul and encouraged them to look more into the Philippine market with the aim of importing more goods and products from the Southeast Asian country.

Ambassador Hernandez, who was accompanied by Commercial Counsellor Mr. Emmanuel Ang and Agriculture Attache Ms. Aleli Maghirang, met with KOIMA Chairman Mr. Shin Myoung-jin and KOIMA executive Vice Chairman Kim Hyun-myung at the KOIMA headquarters

Chairman Shin and Ambassador Hernandez reaffirmed the continued cooperation between KOIMA and the Philippine Embassy in Seoul, towards increased bilateral trade between the Philippines and Korea.

Ambassador Hernandez invited KOIMA to send a buyer delegation to the Philippines. Chairman Shin responded that it might be possible to organize this delegation for next year.

KOIMA undertakes only 3-5 overseas buying missions every year, and typically sends a large delegation. The last buying delegation from KOIMA to the Philippines was 2013, and both sides were excited at the prospect of undertaking this mission to Manila again this 2018.

Ambassador Hernandez also discussed the possibility of an MOU between KOIMA and a Philippine private sector organization, for increased cooperation in business matching and trade facilitation.

KOIMA is Korea's only private organization exclusively dedicated to facilitating imports into Korea to develop its industry, with more than 8,500 members importing a diverse range of products.


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