By Bernie Cahiles-Magkilat The Department of Trade and Industry has decided to forgo having a country pavilion at this year’s China International Import Expo (CIIE) in Shanghai as it would rather concentrate on securing 100 booths to generate P1.3 billion ($250 million) in sales, doubling last year’s performance. Trade and Industry Secretary Ramon M. Lopez (Bloomberg) DTI Secretary Ramon M. Lopez told reporters on the sidelines of the Franchise-Asia Philippines 2019 at the SMX Convention Center that they are targetting to have 100 booths this year to double last year’s $125 million sales. “So far, we have secured 50 booths,” Lopez said. Last year, the Philippines failed to get the promised 100 booths as the organizer ran out of spaces on strong demand by foreign exhibitors. He said they are working to get another 50 booths this time. On foregoing the country pavilion, Lopez explained that the pavilion is largely a display center to promote the country but does not really drive sales. “So, a pavilion is not really sales drive, but commercial transactions occur at the booths so we to concentrate on driving sales,” he said. The Chinese government subsidized the Philippine pavilion last year. Lopez also said they are using the prevailing good relations with China to secure a total of 100 booths. He has also written his counterpart and tapped the help of the Chinese embassy here to facilitate the Philippine booths. Most of the Philippine exhibitors are in the processed food sector, but DTI is also looking at exports of raw agri products. The CIIE is slated in November this year in Shanghai. It is the first dedicated import exhibition in the world. It is an opportunity for companies from around the world to introduce themselves to the Chinese market and explore opportunities for local cooperation.