𝗖𝗜𝗧𝗘𝗠 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗕𝗟𝗡 𝗘𝘅𝗽𝗹𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗮𝗯𝗼𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗦𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆, 𝗜𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗱𝗲 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝘀

Representatives from the Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions (CITEM) and the Bayanihan Lab Network (BLN) held an exploratory meeting to discuss possible areas of collaboration in advancing sustainability, innovation, and capacity development across sectors. 𝘾𝙄𝙏𝙀𝙈 𝙞𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙋𝙝𝙞𝙡𝙞𝙥𝙥𝙞𝙣𝙚 𝙜𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙣𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩’𝙨 𝙚𝙭𝙥𝙤𝙧𝙩 𝙥𝙧𝙤𝙢𝙤𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙖𝙧𝙢 𝙪𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝘿𝙚𝙥𝙖𝙧𝙩𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙤𝙛 𝙏𝙧𝙖𝙙𝙚 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙄𝙣𝙙𝙪𝙨𝙩𝙧𝙮, known for organizing international trade exhibitions and missions that promote Filipino products and industries in the global market.

The discussion covered potential partnerships in exhibitions, sustainability lectures, startup pitching platforms, capability development programs, and trade missions, particularly in initiatives that engage startups, local government units (LGUs), and the education sector. Among the opportunities discussed was participation in the upcoming Sustainability Solutions Exchange (SSX) scheduled for May 21–23, 2026, as well as related sustainability programming within the International Food Exhibition Philippines (IFEX).

CITEM noted that BLN’s initiatives in promoting sustainability practices and cross-sector collaboration could complement its platforms that bring together entrepreneurs, industry leaders, and policymakers to showcase solutions in areas such as sustainable manufacturing, eco-packaging, circular design, and green enterprise development.

Present at the meeting from CITEM were Katrina C. Pineda, SSX Project Manager and Chief Trade Industry Development Specialist for the Trade Promotion Service for Consumer and Allied Sectors; Alphonse D. Estacio, Chief Trade Industry Development Specialist for the Trade Promotion Service for Food; Chol dela Paz, SSX Project Officer for Exhibition and Senior Trade Industry Development Specialist; and Ma. Lourdes Quimson, SSX Project Officer for Startups and the Pitching Competition.

Representing BLN were Dexter Lloyd Sularte, Gella Leano, and Rodolfo Emperado.

Learn more about Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions and their programs: https://www.citem.com.ph

Discover the work of Bayanihan Lab Network: https://www.bayanihanlabnetwork.com

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