It is business as usual for DTI as the new Secretary is committed to pursue the program initiated by his predecessor. Efforts to maintain stable prices of commodities will be sustained through close monitoring of unfair trade practices of unscrupulous traders. More investments in IT businesses such as call centers will be encouraged. And support for various entrepreneurship initiatives will continue.
Priority areas where programs for development and expansion are being established have been identified. These include the automotive export sector, semi-conductors, IT services, fashion accessories, wearable and food processing.
Confidence is high that export proceeds for 2004 will grow as new opportunities are exploited. The intention, of course, is to promote exports of basic food items without disrupting supply and prices in the domestic market.
How can semi-conductor companies be encouraged to stay when the cost of power and electricity has been relentlessly going up thus becoming more and more uncompetitive? Just recently, the courts delivered another jolt to the economy. The decision that came down after eight years of hiatus slammed government plans to resuscitate the dying mining industry. How do you then expect mining investors to come and extend their financial resources and technical expertise to help us extract our resources for the benefit of local economy?
Since we just keep on shooting our foot, we might as well forget foreign investors. Lets go for self-reliance. Focus on increasing local investments. Let us help ourselves. Who else should keep the Philippines going but us and millions of other Filipinos who are stuck in this country?
Join us break barriers with Secretary Cesar Purisima to gain a better understanding of what government is doing towards livening up the economy. Watch it.
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