At the International Encounters held by Cosmed on 15 December 2014, UbiFrance Vietnam trade advisor Sylvie Fure and ASEAN Cosmetics Association VP Alain Khaiat presented the ASEAN cosmetics market and key points to be aware of for exporting to this market. Part two: the markets of the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.
Philippines
The archipelago of the Philippines lies in a strategic location at the edge of Southeast Asia. It occupies 343,448 square kilometres and comprises 7,107 islands. These include Luzon, in the north (12 million inhabitants), which is home to Manila, the capital; the Visaya islands in the centre (1.4 million inhabitants); and Mindanao in the south (1.4 million inhabitants).
The country has the twelfth-largest population in the world. The population is very young even though the average life expectancy is 71.6 years. The fertility rate is 3.1 children per woman. 50% of Filipinos are under age 23 and 34% are under age 15.
It is also the only Asian country to have a Catholic majority (84% of the population, vs 7% for Muslims).
The cultural influences are quite varied: Asian, Spanish, American, and more. The national language is English (and Filipino) and the justice system is derived from a combination of Spanish and American laws. The influence of Spanish civil law is visible in private law and family law, while American laws have influenced common law (case law) in commercial law, public law, and the procedural …
