The junior Foreign Service Officers (FSO) of the DFA, together with the training coordinators of the Foreign Service Institute, visited Manila FAME (Furnishings and Apparel Manufacturers’ Exchange) on October 17, 2014 at the SMX Convention Center, Mall of Asia Complex, in Pasay City.

A bi-annual trade show organized by the Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions (CITEM), the export promotions arm of DTI, is the country’s premier trade platform which hosts small and medium scale entrepreneurs who want to showcase their export-quality Philippine designs and crafts.

It attracts a significant number of visitors, both domestic and foreign traders and buyers.

Ms. Katrina Pineda of CITEM gave the FSO Cadets a brief lecture on the event’s history and purpose before they toured the exhibit halls to view the works and products of some of the best Philippine fashion designers and artists, such as Kenneth Cobonpue.

The FSO Cadetship Course includes a Module on Economic Diplomacy which aims to introduce the junior FSOs to the various international trade fora andobserve the dynamics of a major trade event, such as the Manila FAME, and its roles in advancing the country’s economic growth and development.