PH MSMEs urged to go global
Export Marketing Bureau
December 6, 2016
The Department of Trade and Industry’s Export Marketing Bureau (DTI-EMB) is keen on pushing for the inclusion of micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) into the global market as they line up activities for the upcoming National Export Congress (NEC) 2016 on December 7 at the Philippine Trade Training Center (PTTC), Pasay City.
“We’ve been exploring and doing initiatives on how we can further help our MSMEs to go global and sustain their presence in the international markets,” said DTI Industry Promotion Group (IPG) Undersecretary Nora K. Terrado.
With the theme “Advancing SMEs through Inclusive Business: from Local to Global,” the NEC 2016 is co-organized by DTI-EMB, Export Development Council (EDC), and Philippine Exporters Confederation, Inc. (PHILEXPORT). The event primarily aims to promote an enabling business environment by assisting MSMEs in accessing the international markets through various government support services including information sessions on free trade agreements (FTAs).
“Our call for our local producers and MSMEs is to be fully informed on how they can maximize various FTAs that we currently have and to scale up products to further access new markets,” added Undersecretary Terrado.
NEC is the highlight of the annual celebration of the National Exporters’ Week, held every first week of December pursuant to the Presidential Proclamation 931, series of 1996. This year’s NEC aims to highlight the importance of inclusive business in advancing MSMEs in the global trade. DTI noted that through inclusive business, even MSMEs in far flung regions will have equal opportunities as others as they participate in the value chain. It is also expected to generate more jobs across the country.
NEC 2016 will also recognize top exporters with exemplary performance in their respective sectors as well as successful enrollees of the Regional Interactive Platform for Philippine Exporters (RIPPLES) Plus. RIPPLES Plus is a DTI-EMB initiated program that aims to expand the supply base of competitive Philippine export products through the conduct of capacity-building trainings and business matching activities among its enrollees.
Other activities lined up during NEC 2016 include networking sessions with DTI-Foreign Trade Service Corps (FTSC), EMB-Market Innovation Division (EMB-MID), and Halal Certifying Bodies, which all aim to discuss international market trends and opportunities for SMES in exploring and expanding their market. There will also be exhibits of commodity agencies, RIPPLES Plus enrollees, and Halal Pavilion.
DTI-EMB will also launch the enhanced Tradeline Philippines, an interactive information system and business matching platform that aim to deliver timely and relevant information and assistance to existing and potential exporters to enhance their capabilities and competitiveness as suppliers of quality goods and services to global markets.
Accessible via tradelinephilippines.dti.gov.ph, it is positioned as DTI-EMB’s main information and communications technology (ICT) tool in providing its stakeholders with an integrated export information system that will provide regular trade statistics reports, market and product information, supplier and buyer databases, and other trade-related information though the web.□