Export opportunities for agri cited

MANILA, Philippines - Philippine businesses are advised to take advantage of lucrative export opportunities in agriculture as well as in the information and communications technology (ICT) sector to increase trade with Malaysia.

The Philippine Exporters Confederation Inc. said in a statement that according to Malaysia External Trade Development Corp. Trade Commissioner Har Man Ahmad, Malaysia’s imports of agricultural and processed food products and crude rubber from the Philippines remain low.

He said shipments to Malaysia are still dominated by electrical and electronic products which comprise more than half of  total major imports from the Philippines.

 â€œI think the crude rubber can be developed into one of the major export products to Malaysia...only a portion of the rubber plantations are in the southern part of Malaysia and our technology is very far advanced so we still need more supply of crude rubber,” he said.

He said there are opportunities in agriculture products, particularly mango and pineapple-based goods.

“So far, we have been importing a lot from Thailand and I think due to the strength of agricultural goods in the Philippines, (this is) something that most probably the Filipinos should look at,” he said.

He said other products that the Philippines can export to Malaysia include processed food; refined petroleum products; chemical products; manufactures of metal; as well as machinery, appliances and parts.

Opportunities in ICT, he also said, can be explored.

 â€œWe look at the Philippines because we have a very limited talent and the cost of doing business is getting higher. So the best way is to have it established here or we outsource from a local Filipino company by using the local talent which is being recognized as one of the (most) talented (manpower) in terms of the ICT industries,” he noted.

Moreover, he said there are opportunities in the following sectors in Malaysia: automotive parts; business services; defense, aerospace and maritime; food and beverage; health and medical; infrastructure, building and construction; and oil and gas sectors.

The Philippines is Malaysia’s 19th import source with purchases amounting to $1.55 billion in 2012.

In terms of exports, the Philippines is Malaysia’s 17th largest market with sales reaching $3.39 billion last year.