Eco-products International Fair 2009
10 June 2008, Press Conference at the Sofitel Philippines Plaza Manila

A press conference was held on 10 June to launch the 5th Eco-products International Fair (EPIF) to be held at the SMX Convention Center, Manila, the Philippines, 19−22 March 2009. The press conference was at the Sofitel Philippines Plaza Manila and attended by senior representatives from all organizers including APO Secretary-General Shigeo Takenaka; Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation Chairman Teisuke Kitayama, Chairperson, EPIF Preparatory Committee in Japan; Development Academy of the Philippines (DAP) Board Chairman Jimmy T. Yaokasin, Jr.; DAP President Antonio D. Kalaw, Jr.; Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) President Sammie Lim; Philippine Business for the Environment (PBE) President Howard D. Belton; and EPIF 2009 Advisory Committee Chairperson Amelita M. Ramos, former First Lady of the Philippines. Thirty-one members of the local and international media attended the press conference, including the Associated Press, Agence France-Press, the Japanese dailies Nikkei, Yomiuri and Tokyo Shimbun, and The Philippine Daily Inquirer and Philippine Star.

The EPIF, the largest environmental fair in Asia, brings key international players and executives of eco-product and service providers together under one roof and provides a platform for multifaceted business networking, national projects, business-to-business transactions, and green branding promotion strategies. Since the first EPIF in Malaysia in 2004, each successive fair has been larger and generated more publicity. The 4th EPIF held in Vietnam in early March 2008 drew nearly 100,000 visitors over four days and was covered by more than 30 newspapers and magazines.

Foreign and local media attending the press conference

The press conference began with an opening statement from DAP Board Chairman Yaokasin, in which he emphasized the importance of “Sustainable Production, Sustainable Consumption, Sustainable Future,” the theme of the upcoming EPIF. APO Secretary-General Takenaka then briefly introduced the APO and its Green Productivity (GP) Program that aims to harmonize productivity improvement with environmental protection, under which the EPIFs are organized. Chairperson Kitayama spoke on the role of the GP Advisory Committee and the EPIF Preparatory Committee, detailing their commitment to establishing sound, green supply chains in the region through the EPIFs.

Secretary-General Takenaka introducing the Eco-products Directory 2008 to the media

PPCI President Lim promised strong support for the promotion of eco-products via its nationwide network of local manufacturers, exporters, and retailers in both the industry and service sectors. PBE President Belton underscored the urgent need to address environmental problems and listed a number of positive effects that the EPIF could have on local and international industry. Madame Ramos, humbly referring to herself as a “neophyte environmentalist,” shared her experience with an environmental program to clean up the Pasig River, one of the Philippines’ main rivers. She suggested that the upcoming EPIF 2009 was an invaluable opportunity to exhibit Filipino creativity and originality, especially in the area of waste management.

A briefing on the EPIF 2009 by DAP President Kalaw was followed by an open forum for the press. Topics discussed included the promotion plan for the EPIF 2009 across the Philippines, measures to cope with the environmental challenges, and details on EPIF preparations. In response to a question from the media, the APO Secretary-General gave the explanations on the Eco-products Directory.

Secretary-General Takenaka observing mini-fair booths

Reporters and producers who attended the press conference got a sneak preview of the future EPIF at a mini-fair next to the press conference venue. One reporter expressed doubts about how effectively information could be disseminated given the geographic situation of the Philippines. However, he agreed with the idea of organizing concurrent seminars to raise the awareness and attention of the people and promised that the media would help organizers to promote the event and therefore eco-friendly ideas in general.