10 January 2018

also published in Business Mirror

THE Export Marketing Bureau (EMB) of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) is set to expand its Philippine Export Competitiveness Program (PECP) for 2018, as it partners with more DTI regional and provincial offices, Negosyo Centers, local government units and private-sector organizations like PhilExport and the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Through an enhanced cooperation with public and private stakeholders, EMB’s PECP program seeks to develop the capabilities of exporters, support organizations and all stakeholders alike.

The PECP is EMB’s umbrella undertaking that seeks to boost the competitive stance of domestic manufacturers and exporters through seminars, information sessions  and activities that give them insights on productivity, innovation and updates on export trends.

Last year, more than 1,000 participants participated in a total of 21 information sessions conducted by the EMB in various localities nationwide.

For 2018 the EMB aims to hold its seminars in all 16 regions of the country and will incorporate sessions on Doing Business in Free Trade Areas (DBFTA). The DBFTA sessions will cover discussions on market opportunities, preferential tariffs, rules of origin and customs procedures on Philippine FTA partners and Generalized Scheme of Preferences donor countries.

This year, PECP topics will include e-commerce and online marketing, addressing nontariff measures, packaging and labelling, the Bureau of Customs’s  CMTA updates, export procedures, the EMB’s Tradeline Philippines, shipping regulations, certification compliance  and warehousing services for micro, small and medium enterprises, among others. Through an enhanced program offering, the PECP seeks to grow the number of well-informed stakeholders to sustain export growth.

The first PECP information session this year is slated on January 25, to be held at the DTI International Building along Gil J. Puyat Avenue in Makati City.