DTI trade promo projects generate $312 million in 2009

MANILA, Philippines - Filipino exporters were able to sell $312 million worth of products to foreign buyers and P101 million to domestic buyers last year despite the slowdown in the global economy, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) reported yesterday.

The sales were from the 16 Philippine trade promotion activities led by the Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions (CITEM), an attached agency of the DTI.

DTI said that the exporters tapped new market segments including creative industries and eco-lifestyle and have shifted to local demand to cope with the financial crisis in 2009.

DTI reported that the trade activities benefited 2, 221 enterprises, mostly small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and generated 10, 911 trade inquiries.  

“The year 2009 had been temporarily challenging for Philippine exports, however, diversification strategies and efforts to tap the domestic market cushioned the exporters from further blow from the global recession,” said Senior Trade Undersecretary Thomas G. Aquino.  

The Manila F.A.M.E. International, CITEM’s bi-annual trade fair for the home and fashion lifestyle sectors, generated a total of $41 million. Best selling products were Christmas and other holiday decors, houseware and home decors, and furniture and furniture components. In terms of number of buyers, USA and Japan emerged as top buyers for both April and October edition.

Manila F.A.M.E.’s 50th edition also jump-started promotions of the Philippine creative industry through the first Art Manila (Philippine visual arts), FashioNation (Philippine garments and textiles), and the Health and Wellness Show in a bid to address the $209-billion Lifestyles of Health and Sustainability (LOHAS) market. 

Meanwhile, e-Services Global Sourcing Conference and Exhibition generated $101 million sales contracts and registered 1,464 local and foreign visitors as well as global brands including IBM Global Services, the European Software Institute (ESI), JP Morgan Chase, Sutherland Global Services, Ericsson, AT Kearney, and Fordham University. 

International Food Exhibition (IFEX) Philippines, on the other hand, recorded $57-million export sales and 2, 084 local and foreign visitors. IFEX ’09 also became the launching pad of exporters for new niche products such as VeeGee coffee (coffee flavored energy drink), Muzcafe (instant coffee with muscovado sugar), kalamunggay tea (malunggay tea), coconut sugar and coconut nectar, mango oatmeal cookies, bottled veggies, pork and beef jerky.  

IFEX ‘09 also featured Region 10 or Northern Mindanao as its Partner Region featuring ethnic food products and delicacies from Cagayan de Oro, Camiguin Island, Lanao del Norte, Bukidnon, and Misamis Occidental.