His Excellency Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., Senators and members of Congress, ambassadors and members of the diplomatic corps, our trade partners and members of the business community, ladies and gentlemen—good evening.
I would like to begin by expressing my appreciation to everyone present here for taking part in CITEM’s “TANYAG¨ International Trade Partners Night.
This momentous event aims to unite all of us in achieving the goal of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s administration for an inclusive, competitive, and prosperous Philippine economy.
Tonight, let me share three key initiatives that coincide with the Department of Trade and Industry’s new strategic direction to transform the Philippine export sector into a globally competitive, sustainable, and agile industry. These three processes also coincide with CITEM’s core function to elevate Philippine products on the global stage.
First, we pursue industry development where we have or can potentially have leverage. Industry development means addressing constraints to both scale and scope of production. It means competing beyond pricing and amplifying the quality. It means value-addition, sustainability, and reliability of Philippine exports in the global market.
Industry development requires a shift in our mindset from simply promoting existing profitable products and services to promoting and highlighting our CAPABILITIES.
Second, we are undertaking a cluster approach to developing and promoting export priorities. We bolster the country’s export performance by pursuing an Industry Development Centric Approach to Export Development. We prioritize four industry clusters in consideration of the country’s competitiveness and the shifts in the global value chains. These are: Industrial, Manufacturing, and Transport (IMT); Technology, Media, and Telecommunication (TMT); Health and Life Sciences (HLS); and Modern Basic Needs and a Resilient Economy (MBNRE).
Third, we embrace—together with our MSMEs—Industry 4.0 using Science, Technology, and Innovation. We nurture our MSMEs into developing world-class Filipino products, undergoing digital transformation to reach wider markets, and taking the spotlight on the international market.
MSMEs will soon have a digital platform market that will showcase their products to domestic and international buyers.
We are also upgrading our manufacturing capacity in the regions, enough to supply both local and global markets. We are doing this by promoting regional industrialization through innovation and entrepreneurship.
We create viable opportunities for businesses to make the Philippines a preferred trade partner. Our Industry 4.0 or the digital transformation project and our Smart Industry Readiness Index (SIRI) project support firms and industries shifting to new technologies.
Industry development is the best way to deliver exporting breakthroughs. We will need to act faster to gain a bigger share of the opportunities in the global market.
We call on everyone ‘s support to DTI and CITEM in further propelling Philippine exports. Let us work together to unlock the country’s unrealized export potential of USD 49 billion a year to achieve sustainable and inclusive development.
Given the Filipinos’ innate ingenuity and resourcefulness, we are excited for future collaborations between the public and private sectors in providing support and opportunities that would make the Philippines’ global presence a reality.
Once again, thank you for your presence this evening. We consider you as our partners in promoting industry development and trade and taking CITEM to a new level of support as we build back better. Together, let us make globally visible and accessible Philippine-made products happen.
Produktong Pilipino para sa Pilipino at sa Buong Mundo.
With this, it is my honor to introduce our Guest of Honor for this evening…
Ladies and gentlemen, the President of the Republic of the Philippines, His Excellency President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr.*
Date of release: 03 March 2023