From Left to Right: Visiting DFA-OAA Assistant Secretary Jose Victor Chan-Gonzaga, Frobisher International Enterprises, Ltd. Business Development Director Mark Hendrickson and Consul General Gina A. Jamoralin pose for a photo opportunity after the meeting. (Photo by Vancouver PCG)

27 December 2024 - Consul General Gina A. Jamoralin and Department of Foreign Affairs-Office of American Affairs (DFA-OAA) Assistant Secretary Jose Victor Chan-Gonzaga met with Mr. Mark Hendrickson, Business Development Director of Frobisher International Enterprises, Ltd. (Frobisher), at the sidelines of the Annual Consular and Economic Consultations of Philippine Posts in Canada on 16 December 2024. Also present in the meeting were Consul Anna Ericka Abad and Director Stephanie Alexis A. Cruz of the DFA-OAA.

Frobisher, a company in Vancouver, BC with four brand retailers in the province, namely: 3Fish, Ocean Mama Seafood, Ocean Mama Organics, and Baffin Bay Seafood, has been supplying Western Canada with premium seafood for more than 40 years. During the meeting, Director Hendrickson shared the outcome of Frobisher’s participation in the Team Canada’s Trade Mission (TCTM) to the Philippines and Indonesia from 01 to 06 December 2024. Director Hendrickson conveyed his successful initial meetings with some potential seafood product Filipino exporters that Frobisher may partner with to supply the growing demand for seafood, particularly lobster tail, milk fish, and shrimp, in Canada. As of now, the company imports seafood products from India, China, Viet Nam, and Indonesia. Director Hendrickson also mentioned that his company is looking forward to exporting seafood products such as squid, black cod, octopus, and shrimp to the Philippines in the near future.

Assistant Secretary Chan-Gonzaga assured Director Hendrickson that the DFA is ready to connect Frobisher with Filipino companies and with the Department of Agriculture. Likewise, Consul General Jamoralin advised Director Hendrickson to also consider importing other seafood products from the Philippines such as abalone and tilapia. END

Clockwise: Assistant Secretary Jose Victor Chan-Gonzaga, Consul General Gina A. Jamoralin, Consul Ericka Anna Abad, Director Stephanie Alexis A. Cruz, and Frobisher Director Mark Hendrickson discuss Frobisher’s participation in the Team Canada Trade Mission in the Philippines and Indonesia from 01 to 06 December 2024(Photo by Vancouver PCG)