text: IFEX 2017 fortifies regional synergy as PH leads 30th ASEAN summit | Entertainment
  DTI-CITEM streamlines ASEAN aspirations in Asia's premier ethnic food and ingredients show
  The Department of Trade and Industry's Center for International Trade Expositions & Missions (DTI-CITEM) supports the country's campaign to drive up trade opportunities and inclusive growth in the ASEAN region through the International Food Exhibition (IFEX) Philippines—the biggest and most respected sourcing platform for Asian heritage food and ingredients.
  Last January 15, President Rodrigo Duterte officially launched the Philippines' chairmanship for the upcoming 30th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit on April 30 with the theme "Partnering for Change, Engaging the World." The summit will converge the heads of state and sectoral leaders from all over Southeast Asia in the Philippines to attend a series of events on trade and policy with the aim of forging relationships between the 10 member-countries of the ASEAN.
  For this year's edition, CITEM is targeting to have 770 exhibitors (135 foreign) and a total export sales of US$ 118.61 million.