The Philippine Consulate General officially welcomed the arrival in Hong Kong of Commercial Attache and Vice Consul Atty. Roberto B. Mabalot Jr., Foreign Trade Service Officer IV of the Philippine Department of Trade and Industry, on 17 May 2020.

The establishment of the Philippine Trade and Investment Center in Hong Kong, (PTIC-Hong Kong) represented by Commercial Attache Mabalot, is intended to increase investment opportunities for the Philippines from Hong Kong and Macau investors and businessmen.

With the One Belt One Road (OBOR) initiative, and the development of the Greater Bay Area (GBA), PTIC-Hong Kong will explore potential markets for the Philippines in order to promote export products to OBOR and GBA countries and territories.

The Commercial Attache will also lead in the implementation of the ASEAN-Hong Kong, China Free Trade Agreement, which took effect for the Philippines last 12 May 2020.

Prior joining the Department of Trade and Industry, Commercial Attache Mabalot used to practice law at Mabalot Law Office in Baguio City, and was a founding partner of The Law Office of Domogan, Chan and Mabalot which mainly handles labor and family law cases.  Atty. Mabalot is also a licensed teacher as well as a practicing psychometrician before studying law at Saint Louis University in Baguio City.

The Consulate and the PTIC-Hong Kong will be working closely together towards a strengthened Philippine-Hong Kong bilateral trade and investment relations.