**Focus on the Philippines: Cosmetics and Cleaning Products Sector**

Philippines Focus in Cosmetics and Cleaning Sector The Istanbul Chemical Substances and Products Exporters Association (İKMİB) organized a "Cosmeet Asia Sectoral Trade Delegation" to the Philippines for the cosmetics and cleaning products sector, with the participation of 18 Turkish companies. During the two-day meetings, 18 Turkish companies operating in the cosmetics and cleaning products sector conducted a total of 266 bilateral business meetings at an event attended by 26 buyer companies from the Philippines, Vietnam and Indonesia. Within the framework of the trade delegation organized by İKMİB's cosmetics and cleaning products subsector, the Cosmeet Asia Sectoral Trade Delegation to the Philippines took place between 6-8 June 2023. Conducted under the leadership of İKMİB Board Member Uğur Adıyaman, the delegation's first day included a retail tour for market research purposes, during which chain stores were visited and examined. On the second day, an informational meeting on the market was held with the participation of Turkish Trade Counselor Serhan Ortaç at the Manila office and local experts.

Suppliers and Turkish companies meet

An event attended by a total of 44 Turkish and Filipino companies, which lasted two days and during which new business cooperation opportunities were discussed, resulted in a total of 266 bilateral business meetings. In the bilateral business meetings, purchasing managers and suppliers from 3 different Asian countries – the Philippines, Vietnam and Indonesia – met with Turkish companies.

İKMİB Board Chairman Adil Pelister, speaking about the various activities carried out as the umbrella organization of the chemical sector in exports to enable member companies to access world markets and increase exports, continued as follows:

"Within the framework of the Cosmeet Asia Sectoral Trade Delegation held between 6-8 June for our cosmetics and cleaning products sector, we brought together 18 Turkish companies with 26 Asian purchasing managers in the Philippines. We organized the first-ever trade delegation in the cosmetics and cleaning products sector to the Philippines, which is among the countries included in our Ministry of Commerce's Far Countries Strategy. Under the program, a total of 266 bilateral business meetings were held with Asian business professionals. We believe the delegation will be beneficial not only for the Philippines but also in initiating and developing commercial relations with neighboring countries. Looking at the exports of the cosmetics and cleaning products sector to the Philippines, we see increasing momentum. In 2022, the cosmetics and cleaning products sector achieved exports of USD 1.37 million with a 14 percent increase compared to the previous year. In the first five months of this year, the sector's total exports increased by 77 percent, reaching USD 1.14 million. The total exports of our chemical sector to the Philippines reached USD 21.2 million in 2022 with a 22.17 percent increase. We see a large market for our cosmetics and cleaning products sector in Asian countries. It is important for our exporters to diversify their markets for sustainable exports. We will continue to support our sector as İKMİB."