Handicraft makers on track to meet 10% growth target

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine Exporters Confederation Inc. (Philexport) said handicraft exporters are on track to meet their 10-percent growth target for 2013 as major markets continued to book orders.

Dennis Orlina, president of the Philippine Chamber of Handicraft Industries, was quoted by Philexport as saying that the local handicraft industry is on track to achieving the 10 percent growth based on last year’s $130 million sales.

“There are companies indicating revenue increases. These are mostly producing baskets made from natural resources. So I think we are on track at achieving the 10 percent based on last year’s ($130-million sales),” Orlina said.

Orlina said the sector already hit a six to seven-percent growth in January to June this year. 

He said their biggest markets include the United States, Europe, Japan and Germany.

To further boost export sales, Orlina underscored the need for the country to develop more varieties of indigenous raw materials used in producing handicraft products and to maximize their utilization.

“Abaca is unique to the Philippines. We should develop other fiber groups not produced by other countries,” he noted.  “This will improve our capacity on all fronts in terms of volume, availability of materials and interventions in material development.”    

Orlina said the domestic market contributes only five percent of their total revenues.

He said the country should allow top global retailers to set-up businesses here so these could buy their goods from local suppliers.

"So that we don't need to compete outside (the country)," he noted.