The Fourth Industrial Revolution is evolving in an exponential pace. The possibilities of billions of people connected by mobile devices with unprecedented processing power, storage capacity, and access to knowledge are unlimited. And these possibilities will be multiplied by emerging technology breakthroughs in fields such as artificial intelligence (AI), robotics, the Internet of Things (IoT), autonomous vehicles, 3-D printing, nanotechnology, biotechnology, materials science, energy storage, and quantum computing.
Already, AI is all around us–from self-driving cars and drones to virtual assistants and software that translate or invest. Impressive progress has been made in recent years which raised the quality of our lives. IoT can exclude human errors from various sectors. For example, irrigation and farm inputs such as drone-enabled fertilizers, climate conditions can be integrated by the use of IoT to ensure better yields. It can also be used in power generation and distribution as timely control of these systems in an automated way can reduce losses.
These are just some of the technological breakthroughs that are featured in the upcoming National Export Congress (NEC) to be held at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) in Pasay City on 6 December 2019.
Moderators and panelists will tackle the best of what these technologies have to offer, specifically for the Philippine export sector. The panel sessions will focus on “The Critical Role of Technology and Collaboration in Growing Exports” and Enabling Exports through Digitalization.”
Session 1 will discuss the following topics: 1) Making it Easy to Export (National Single Window, Self-certification, E-CO), 2) Innovative Financing to Grow Exports (Digital Payment, Fintech, Policies on Digitalization, Blockchain, 3) Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) Breakthroughs, 4) Build, Build, Build for the Digital Economy, and 5) Innovation Programs for Exporters.
Meanwhile, Session 2 will focus on: 1) Emerging Technology Breakthroughs (3D Printing and Internet of Things, 2) Logistics in the Digital Era, 3) Exports in the Digital Economy, 4) Financing Platform: Trade Credit Insurance.
The NEC will gather various stakeholders from the government, academe, industry and the civil society not only to strengthen but also to forge better collaboration to discuss the dynamic transformation of the economy into the digital era.
As such, this year’s theme “Driving Exports Through Digital Transformation” puts forward the government’s thrust for the exporting community to adapt to the fast-paced technological advancements and embrace the era of digital economy.
DTI Secretary Ramon M. Lopez stressed that “these technological advancements and innovations can pave the path of our Filipino entrepreneurs to be more globally-competitive and open access to new markets for their products and services. These modernizations can give people more opportunities to learn and earn in new ways.”
Meanwhile, Undersecretary Abdulgani Macatoman of DTI-Trade Promotions Group (TPG) added that “digital technology can enable transparent business environment and a robust industrial strategy that can free entrepreneurs and their people from certain tasks. They can now concentrate on addressing more complex business issues, thereby giving them more autonomy and better solutions for their company’s possible issues.
Conducted every first week of December, the NEC is an annual event led by the Department of Trade and Industry through the Export Marketing Bureau (EMB), in collaboration with the Philippine Exporters Confederation, Inc. (PHILEXPORT), and the Export Development Council (EDC). The annual event is being celebrated to obtain total commitment from the government and the private sector to continuously work together to sustain export promotion and development.
Moreover, the Congress is capped with the recognition of outstanding exporters who have achieved not only a stellar record of export revenue performance for their respective sectors but more so of their outstanding international success in penetrating global markets.♦
Date of Release: 4 December 2019