CITEM’s flagship initiative promoting sustainable practices and resources, SSX will debut as a physical event on May 22-24, 2025 at the World Trade Center in Pasay City. It will be located at the Sustainability Hall within the International Food Exhibition (IFEX) Philippines 2025, the country’s premier international food trade show. This move is set to underscore the country’s commitment to sustainability and circularity in the food industry.

The SSX exhibition will connect entrepreneurs with industry leaders and sustainable solutions providers, showcasing innovations in sustainable food production, packaging, and distribution. It will also feature business matching and pitching sessions to prompt collaborations among industry stakeholders.

The conference will run in parallel at the neighboring Pasay City headquarters of the Philippine Trade Training Center (PTTC). The PTTC Global SME Academy (PTTC-GMEA) is CITEM's Training and Event Partner for SSX 2025.

Sessions will explore topics aligned with this year’s theme, “Green Innovations: Navigating Sustainability Solutions to Future-Proof the Food Industry.” Discussions will focus on building a circular food system, and tackle challenges and opportunities such as food security, social responsibility, packaging, and sustainable waste management.

The two-day conference will feature local and international experts, including EU Delegation Head of Cooperation Marco Gemmer. In addition to official sessions, business breakout sessions will be open to delegates. These will feature experts’ presentations on innovations and strategies to capacitate entrepreneurs for sustainable trade and exporting, including to the European Union. Another breakout session will be dedicated to consumers and advocates, whose speakers will cover environmental policies, conscious consumerism, waste management–measures that will drive sustainable lifestyles and community engagement.

The EU is supporting SSX as part of the EU-Philippine Green Economy Partnership under the Global Gateway–the European strategy for engaging with partners globally to promote investments around shared priorities. The partnership focuses on achieving sustainable and inclusive growth through policy dialogue, championing of local initiatives, investments and the creation of green and decent jobs.

Organized by CITEM, SSX was conceived to help micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSME’s) transition to a circular economy. The event aims to boost entrepreneurs’ global competitiveness and promote adherence to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG’s).

Take your place alongside innovators, policymakers, and advocates building a resilient food industry. Visit sustainability.ph now to access the programme and register as a delegate to SSX 2025.

About CITEM

The Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions (CITEM) is the export promotion arm of the Philippine Department of Trade and Industry (DTI). CITEM advances the country’s image as a premier sourcing destination for quality export products and services. It remains steadfast in setting the highest standards of creativity, excellence, and innovation to achieve competitiveness in the home, fashion, lifestyle, food, creative, sustainability, electronics, and health information management services sectors. CITEM is committed to developing, nurturing, and promoting micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), brands, designers, and manufacturers by implementing an integrated approach to export marketing in partnership with other government and private entities.

About the EU-Philippine Green Economy Partnership

Funded by a P3.67 billion (€60 million) grant from the European Union, the EU-Philippine Green Economy Partnership is running from 2023 to 2028 in collaboration with the Government of the Philippines, led by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources. This priority programme of the European Union in the Philippines links European and Filipino partners from the private sector and local governments to foster a circular economy and the reduction of plastic waste. It also aims to improve energy efficiency and promote renewable energy use and climate change mitigation and adaptation. Through technology transfers and investments, the programme aims to accelerate the transition to a greener economy while sustaining economic growth that benefits all Filipinos.

Implemented by Germany’s development agency GIZ, the United Nations Development Programme, Expertise France with Global Green Growth Institute, and the International Finance Corporation – a member of the World Bank Group, the programme is part of EU’s Global Gateway initiative – the European strategy engaging with partners globally and promoting investments around shared priorities such as the transition to a green economy and the advancement of digital infrastructure, among others.