By APD writer Melo M. Acuña

MANILA – Commercial malls in the Philippines sell goods imported from Yiwu.  This practice has been going on for years.

“Most Filipinos do not know Yiwu but it is known to all the Chinese businessmen for a long, long time as it is the biggest trading center,” said Dr. Francis C. Chua, former Philippine Special Trade envoy to China in an exclusive interview early Friday evening.

He said Yiwu has been acknowledged as China’s “wholesale center” as it has a special train that brings Chinese products to Europe.  He added the city is a trading center where goods from all over China are displayed in many buildings which carry different products of different brands that are all manufactured in China.

“If you plan to put up a mall, you go to Yiwu and import all the products you need to sell in the Philippines,” added Dr. Chua who led the Federation of Filipino – Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry from 2005 – 2007.  He also served President of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

He said Chinese products sold in Yiwu have further improved over the years. 

 “They, in Yiwu, know their business and if Filipinos visit the city, they don’t have to worry because businessmen will attend to the packaging and facilitate the delivery of goods to the Philippines,” he further explained. 

Malls selling Chinese products have been established in key growth centers across the country over the past two decades.

 (ASIA PACIFIC DAILY)