THE Department of Trade and Industry-Export Marketing Bureau (DTI-EMB), in cooperation with the Philippine Exporters Confederation Inc. (Philexport) and Export Development Council (EDC), is ready to lead this year’s celebration of the National Exporters’ Week (NEW) from December 1 to 7.
First on the NEW’s activities are the series of seminars through the Usapang Exports. There will be three sessions that will also focus on this year’s event theme, “SPICE [Stimulate. Permeate. Innovate. Connect. Expand!] Up to Scale Up! Expand Exports for Inclusive Prosperity.” These sessions are “Innovative Solutions for Exporters featuring Startups” to be held on December 3; “Export Opportunities: Learning from the Trade Attaches” on December 4; and the “International Certification and Standards for Greater Market Access for Gifts, Decors and Housewares [GDH] and Wearables Sectors” on December 5. Industry experts and the Philippines’s commercial attachés will serve as resource persons of the information sessions.
For the NEW’s highlight event—the 2018 National Export Congress (NEC)—the organizers have lined up new and exciting events on December 7 at the Philippine International Convention Center’s Reception Hall. The DTI-EMB teamed up with the Board of Investments (BOI), the Competitiveness Bureau (CB), and the Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions (Citem) in coming up with fresh activities for the stakeholders.
Trade Secretary Ramon M. Lopez, together with the DTI Trade and Investments Promotion Group (TIPG) Undersecretary Nora K. Terrado, Competitiveness and Ease of Doing Business Group (CEODBG) Undersecretary Rowell S. Barba, DTI-EMB Director Senen M. Perlada and Philexport President Sergio Ortiz-Luis Jr., will spearhead the event.
The BOI, CB and Citem collaborated in the first Logistics Services Philippines Conference and Exhibition on December 6 and 7 also held at PICC. The LSPH Exhibition on December 7 will be held at PICC’s Reception Hall’s Mezzanine Area simultaneous with the Business Matching Hub, Kapiterya and Export Enablers Exhibit.
The LSPH Exhibition aims to feature the services of the logistics service providers to prospective clients and link the exporters, manufacturers and logistics exhibitors, among others. The Business Matching Hub intends to connect the public and private sectors where they could hold discussions on future collaborations to strengthen the Philippine export industry.
The Export Enablers Exhibit showcases the government agencies and business organizations that will help expand the stakeholders’ current network and get industry updates on regulations and market opportunities. Some of the participants for this year are the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, Bureau of Internal Revenue, Film Development Council of the Philippines, the Philippine Coconut Authority and QBO Innovation Hub, among others.
Top Philippine exporters for the year will be recognized. This was conceived by the DTI as a testimony to the strong partnership between the government and the private sector in pursuit of the country’s inclusive and sustainable export development. It aims to motivate, encourage excellence and inspire the country’s entire exporting community.
Participants can look forward to engaging panel discussions with various topics, such as Lowering the Cost of Exporting; Internationalization of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) through the Digital Economy; and Solutions to Bottlenecks in Exports.
This year’s NEC provides a venue for Philippine exporters where they could discuss emerging trends, market opportunities, innovative ideas and technologies.
The Congress offers a new feature where participants can download the 2018 NEC Mobile App to know the latest happenings at the event. It is now available via App Store and Google Play.