On July 18, 2025, during B2BASEAN’s business mission to the Philippines, Amerigo Tatel (left), CEO of B2BASEAN, and Bench Bello (right), head event organizer of Manila International Fashion Week (MIFW), officially signed a partnership agreement. This signing marked as one of the key events in B2BASEAN’s mission to promote collaboration in the creative industry in Russian and the Philippines.
The journey started following the visit of Bench to the BRICS+ Fashion Summit in October 2024 in Moscow, Russia. There, he was introduced by Lubarto Sartoio, the future President of B2BASEAN, to Amerigo Tatel. Both Bench Bello and Amerigo Tatel, who are from the Philippines, met at a cafe to discuss the potential for collaboration between Russia and the Philippines in the field of fashion. As Bench Bello and his team specialize in the Philippine fashion scene, the conversation laid the foundation for a deeper connection between the two countries.
The next step in the collaboration came in December 2024, when Bench Bello was invited by Moda Kolos to the International Fashion Festival in Rostov-on-Don. He was accompanied on this journey by Amerigo Tatel. During the visit, preliminary discussions were held between Bench Bello, Moda Kolos and B2BASEAN regarding the possibility of organizing the “Manila-Moscow Creative Industry Summit” and participating in the upcoming MIFW Season 5 in Manila, Philippines.
The Manila-Moscow Creative Industry Summit, held in June 2025, marked a significant milestone in strengthening creative industry relations between Russia and the Philippines. MIFW Season 5 was also a notable success, featuring the participation of the renowned Elena Murzina along with a delegation of Russian models.
The agreement paves the way for future collaborations in the creative industry, including joint fashion galas, business summits, and cross-border missions. This strategic alliance marks the beginning of sustained cultural and industry exchange between Russia and the Philippines, aimed at fostering innovation and creative growth in both countries.