PH Consulate Reaffirms Support to PACCI Utah to Strengthen Economic Ties
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA – Consul General Neil Ferrer welcomed the visiting officers of the Philippine American Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PACCI) Utah to the Philippine Consulate General in San Francisco on 17 April 2024.
In his meeting with PACCI Utah, Consul General Ferrer underscored the importance of strengthening economic and people-to-people relations with Utah, which hosts more than 20,000 Filipinos and Filipino Americans according to the 2020 U.S. Census.
“There are a lot of opportunities for mutually beneficial cooperation between the Philippines and the Filipino American Community and the State of Utah, including in the areas of economic development and people-to-people relations,” Consul General Ferrer said.
Consul General Ferrer added that he had visited Utah several times for consular outreach missions and engagements with state government officials, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS) leadership, the World Trade Center Utah, the Silicon Slopes Summit, the Utah Valley University, and the University of Utah, among others.
Philippine-made films have also participated in Utah’s Sundance Film Festival, the largest independent film festival in the United States. There is also a significant presence of the LDS Church members in the Philippines, the fourth largest population of Latter-Day Saints of any country in the world.
Consul General Ferrer also invited the group to join the 2024 Very Important Pinoy (VIP) Tour of the Philippines, which this year will visit Metro Manila, Bacolod, Cagayan de Oro, Bukidnon and Iligan.
PACCI Utah President Mary Navalta-Chavan briefed Consul General Ferrer about her group’s calendar of events, including upcoming startup demos, Philippine product bazaar, and a trade mission to the Philippines in 2025. She also discussed expansion plans of some of its members’ businesses in the Philippines, as well as their cooperation with the local offices of the Department of Trade and Industry and Department of Tourism in the Bicol region.
Consul Vanessa Bago-Llona, and Director Soleil Tropicales of the Philippine Department of Tourism Office in San Francisco were also present during the call.
PACCI Utah is a non-profit organization that works to foster economic growth and networking among the Filipino American Community in Utah. According to its officers, the organization aims to serve as a catalyst for business development and strengthen ties between Utah and the Philippines. END
From left to right: Dearly Carrasco; Chat Ficklin; Consul Vanessa Bago-Llona; Consul General Neil Ferrer; Chamber President Mary Navalta-Chavan; Vishal Chavan; Grace Lack; and Tourism Director Soleil Tropicales. (San Francisco PCG photo)
Consul General Neil Ferrer and Philippine Consulate General officials met with the officers from the Philippine American Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Utah at Sentro Rizal of the Philippine Center in San Francisco on 17 April 2024. (San Francisco PCG photo)
Officers from the Philippine American Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Utah visit the Philippine Consulate General in San Francisco to participate in the Tax and Investment Briefing, and to meet with Consul General Neil Ferrer. (San Francisco PCG photo)