DTI steps up exports promotions

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) is set to hold the Manila FAME trade show next week and three more outbound business matching activities within the year to support the continued growth in exports.

According to Trade Undersecretary Ponciano Manalo Jr. the DTI would  continue promotion efforts given its positive effect on the country’s exports performance.

“Given this development in the country’s export performance, we are pleased that our promotion efforts here and abroad have yielded positive results as reflected in the growth momentum sustained by the electronics and the non-electronics sectors,” he said.

Latest data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) showed that the country’s merchandise exports registered a 9.2 percent increase to $40.748 billion this year from $37.330 billion in the same period in 2013.

Manalo said that in the first-half of the year, the Philippines participated in 11 recognized international trade fairs to promote the country as a viable source of innovative and quality products.

“While we now see the gains from our promotion of non-electronic products, particularly our participation in international trade fairs and outbound and inbound trade missions, we will continue to actively participate and conduct these activities to further contribute to our export targets this year,” he said.

As part of the export promotion efforts, the DTI is organizing the Manila FAME, the country’s premiere trade platform for export and design, featuring various products such as furniture, handicrafts and wearable accessories, to be held from October 16 to 19, following its March edition this year.

“Through trade shows like the Manila FAME, we provide opportunities for our small and medium enterprises to showcase their products to the global market,” Manalo said.

Aside from the upcoming trade show, the DTI is also set to conduct three more outbound business-matching activities in France, United Arab Emirates, and Japan within the year to introduce the country’s products.

The DTI is organizing business matching activities to promote products for export to foreign markets.

As of August 2014, the DTI has conducted 32 inbound business-matching activities and two outbound business matching activities.