New Zealand ambassador meets Davao mayor as NZ-backed Mindanao Indigenous trade expo opens

New Zealand Ambassador Dr. Catherine McIntosh met Davao City Mayor Sebastian "Baste" Duterte on 26 October during the first Mindanao Indigenous Peoples Trade Expo, a five-day event at Poblacion Market Central co-organised by the New Zealand Embassy Manila.

New Zealand Ambassador to the Philippines Dr. Catherine McIntosh met Davao City Mayor Sebastian "Baste" Duterte on Monday 26 October during her official visit to Davao City for the first Mindanao Indigenous Peoples Trade Expo (MIPTEX), the Philippine Canadian Inquirer reported. Both sides sought to strengthen cooperation in trade, education, sustainable agriculture and Indigenous community development.

The five-day expo opened on 26 October at Poblacion Market Central and runs until 30 October. homes.ph reported that it is co-organised by the New Zealand Embassy Manila with Philippine agencies including the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples, under the theme "Celebrating Indigenous Heritage, Strengthening Indigenous Wealth Management, and Expanding Sustainable Opportunities".

Inside the expo

• Around 50 exhibitors were expected to show traditional textiles, clothing, handicrafts, food products and other goods reflecting Mindanao's cultural heritage.
• Sessions cover financial literacy, digital marketing, business registration and the protection of Indigenous knowledge and intellectual property.
• A panel titled "Indigenous-to-Indigenous Trade: Heritage Livelihoods, Economic Governance, and Shared Futures" featured DTI 11 Regional Director Romeo Castañaga.
• The programme also includes weaving demonstrations and cultural presentations, with a special focus on women- and youth-led enterprises.

The expo also supports the Indigenous Peoples Economic and Trade Cooperation Arrangement (IPETCA), an international initiative promoting greater economic participation and trade opportunities for Indigenous peoples.

Earlier New Zealand support in Davao

The Davao City government recognised New Zealand's assistance to Indigenous communities, particularly the Bahayahay Learning and Workshop Center for Indigenous Women in Barangay Pandaitan, Paquibato District. The facility, turned over in June 2024, was funded through New Zealand Aid in partnership with the city's Peace 911 initiative and the local Indigenous community, and gives Ata women a space for training in weaving, beadwork, basket-making and dressmaking.

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