Ikea seeks youth, women empowerment, helping SMEs
Published Nov 28, 2019 12:00 am
By Roy Mabasa
When IKEA, the world’s largest furniture retailer, opens its first shop in the Philippines in 2020, it is eyeing as well on how it can engage the Filipinos in socially relevant options such as youth and women empowerment, helping local and small and mid-sized enterprises (SMEs), environmental protection and support for natural disaster preparedness efforts.
From left: Commercial Counsellor Philippine Trade and Investment Center in Brussels Benedict M. Uy, Inter IKEA Group International Relations Leader Dr. Ehsan Turabaz, Inter IKEA Systems B.V. Managing Director Jon Abrahamsson Ring, and Ambassador to the Netherlands Jaime Victor B. Ledda. (PTIC-Brussels photo / DFA Website / MANILA BULLETIN)
This developed during the recent meetings between Philippine Ambassador to the Netherlands Jaime Victor Ledda and two of IKEA’s key officials, Dr. Ehsan Turabaz, head of International Relations, and IKEA Systems B.V. Managing Director Jon Abrahamsson Ring.
In their discussions, the Philippine envoy assured IKEA that the Embassy and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in Manila will help facilitate IKEA's upcoming venture to the Philippines, noting that the furniture giant will be a major provider of direct and indirect employment.
Its entry into the Philippine market is likewise seen as a show of confidence toward the country’s growing economy.
IKEA is set to open what is touted to be its largest shop in the world within the sprawling Mall of Asia area in Pasay City.
The furniture giant aims to give millions of Filipinos easy access to a wide range of “well-designed, functional home furnishing products at prices so low almost everyone will be able to afford them.”
Founded in Sweden more than 75 years ago, IKEA now has more than 400 stores in 50 countries.
IKEA’s colorful success story started in the rugged Swedish province called Småland where the 17-year-old Ingvar Kamprad began selling wallets, ballpoint pens, and other products that could meet the needs of many people at low prices.
He later called his business IKEA – a combination of his initials, IK, and the first letters of the farm and village where he grew up, Elmtaryd and Agunnaryd.
From left: Commercial Counsellor Philippine Trade and Investment Center in Brussels Benedict M. Uy, Inter IKEA Group International Relations Leader Dr. Ehsan Turabaz, Inter IKEA Systems B.V. Managing Director Jon Abrahamsson Ring, and Ambassador to the Netherlands Jaime Victor B. Ledda. (PTIC-Brussels photo / DFA Website / MANILA BULLETIN)
This developed during the recent meetings between Philippine Ambassador to the Netherlands Jaime Victor Ledda and two of IKEA’s key officials, Dr. Ehsan Turabaz, head of International Relations, and IKEA Systems B.V. Managing Director Jon Abrahamsson Ring.
In their discussions, the Philippine envoy assured IKEA that the Embassy and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in Manila will help facilitate IKEA's upcoming venture to the Philippines, noting that the furniture giant will be a major provider of direct and indirect employment.
Its entry into the Philippine market is likewise seen as a show of confidence toward the country’s growing economy.
IKEA is set to open what is touted to be its largest shop in the world within the sprawling Mall of Asia area in Pasay City.
The furniture giant aims to give millions of Filipinos easy access to a wide range of “well-designed, functional home furnishing products at prices so low almost everyone will be able to afford them.”
Founded in Sweden more than 75 years ago, IKEA now has more than 400 stores in 50 countries.
IKEA’s colorful success story started in the rugged Swedish province called Småland where the 17-year-old Ingvar Kamprad began selling wallets, ballpoint pens, and other products that could meet the needs of many people at low prices.
He later called his business IKEA – a combination of his initials, IK, and the first letters of the farm and village where he grew up, Elmtaryd and Agunnaryd.