Philippines to take centre stage at 2009 Swiss fair

MANILA – The Philippines will be the featured country at MUBA, Switzerland’s biggest consumer trade fair, in February 2009.

MUBA – regarded as Switzerland's "largest and most prestigious consumer trade fair"– features a "guest country" every year. In 2009, the Philippines will be given the privilege of presenting its major exports in products and services and tourism, among others, to more than 300,000 fair visitors from Switzerland, France, Germany, and Italy.

Philippine tourism secretary Joseph Ace Durano said that the Philippines' participation in MUBA would bolster its already "very strong" presence in Europe, which has acted as a buffer against the economic slowdown in North America.

Durano said MUBA 2009 would present an opportunity for the Philippines to narrow its trade gap with Switzerland by showing Swiss businessmen the best of Philippine exports, including its tourism products.

Around 17,000 Swiss tourists visited the Philippines in 2007 and arrivals have increased by eight percent in the first half of the year.

Durano said he is confident that the increase in Swiss arrivals "can be sustained and with our presence in MUBA next year, we will increase our presence in that market."