PH Exporters Urged to Join the 2022 National Exporters’ Week

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) through the Export Marketing Bureau (EMB), in partnership with the Export Development Council (EDC) and the Philippine Exporters Confederation, Inc. (PHILEXPORT), is set to resume the onsite conduct of the National Exporters’ Week (NEW) activities on 01-07 December 2022.

Last year, the NEW focused on global trends, export empowerment, and recovery through innovation, digital transformation, and new technology. This year, the NEW focuses on discussions and activities that will pave the way towards "Exporting Breakthroughs" for Philippine-based exporters and the Philippines as an exporting nation. It emphasizes the need to harness the experience, expertise, and knowledge of both public and private stakeholders in international trade and the need to build on our competitive advantage by pursuing innovation and diversification and cultivating a competitive mindset among all stakeholders.

"The thematic discussions and activities during 2022 NEW aim to capacitate Philippine exporters, particularly MSMEs, as they go through their exporting journey from developing their products and services, creating their marketing and promotion strategies, and delivering to their customers. We urge all our exporters to grab this opportunity to listen, learn, and participate in the diverse export-related topics and export marketing activities that will happen this 1st week of December. To be globally competitive, we must actively engage, learn and seek opportunities for continuous development," Trade Promotions Group (TPG) Assistant Secretary Glenn G. Peñaranda said.

Meanwhile, PHILEXPORT President Sergio R. Ortiz Luis Jr. expressed optimism that despite the many challenges, the export industry can achieve its growth target of nearly $120 billion to $130 billion from exports of goods and services in the next five years.

“The next Philippine Export Development Plan is more aggressive, highlighting technology and stronger collaborations towards innovation, skills upgrading, and integration to help counter the negative impacts of issues such as red tape, supply chain disruptions, increasing business costs, climate change, and other challenges,” said Ortiz Luis Jr., also EDC Vice Chairman.

Every first week of December is declared Exporters' Week per Presidential Proclamation 931, Series of 1996. The government and the private sector commit to working together continuously to sustain export promotion and development.

For this year's celebration, a series of activities are organized for the Philippine exporters and would-be exporters free of charge. Four (4) Usapang Exports sessions will be lined up with extensive export-related topics, business-to-business matching activities, and an exhibition featuring exporters, export enablers, and e-commerce platforms and service providers. The event will be held at the Marriott Hotel, Pasay City. To register, visit the link: https://bit.ly/UsapangExports2022.

Exporters will also be able to reach out, network, and seek guidance from our Export Enablers in the Exporters and Export Enablers’ Exhibit on 05-06 December 2022, which will feature export-related services of government agencies, financing institutions, startups, and other trade-related organizations.

As part of the 2022 NEW activities, DTI-EMB also collaborated with the International Trade Centre (ITC) and European Union (EU) Delegation to the Philippines for the ARISE Plus Philippines' The Green Transition: Opportunities and Challenges for Micro, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (MSMEs) in the Philippines.

It will bring together international and national experts and practitioners to create awareness of the new agenda for sustainable growth of the EU, also called the 'Green Deal,' and to discuss the related opportunities and challenges for Philippine exporters and MSMEs in accessing the EU market.

Part of this collaboration is the institutionalization of the partnership of DTI and ITC for the SheTrades Hub in the Philippines, which was launched earlier during the 2020 National Export Congress. It aims to increase the international competitiveness of women entrepreneurs.

Philippine exporters with exemplary performance and contribution in 2021 will be recognized during the Exporters' Night.

The culminating event for this year’s NEW, the 2022 National Export Congress (NEC) will be held at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) on 07 December 2022. The NEC will cover the discussions on how the government aims to pave the way for exporting breakthroughs in the next six years. You may register at: https://bit.ly/NEC2022Registration.

You may follow DTI-EMB on Facebook (fb.com/dti.export) and Twitter (@dtiexport), and Instagram (@dti.export) for more updates.

With 5G and 4L, Will A Driverless Port Far Away?

During Christmas season, dispatching different goods and commodities from all over the world on time for a port is always important. At the end of last year, port congestion caused severe disruptions in global supply chains, and most stores were out of stock during the Black Friday and Christmas, the peak selling season.

To experience less dilemma like this, the innovation case from Tianjin Port might help.

Tianjin Port is one of the world’s largest ports. It has a 300000-ton-class wharf with a channel depth of -22 meters. It has 192 berths of various types and 128 berths above the 10,000-ton-class.

 

By the end of 2021, the port’s cargo throughput reached 435 million tons, ranking ninth in the world, while the container throughput exceeded 18.35 million TEUs, ranking the eighth port in the world.

The cost of manual operations at this scale is exuberant, both in terms of money and efficiency. 

A typical port usually deals with vessel arrivals and departures, shoreside operations, horizontal transport, yard operations, manual tractor trailer transport, and gate operations. 

One of the key steps in port digitalization is automating horizontal transport, that is, handling cargo within the port.

The Smart Port Solution uses the latest tech — intelligent twins, autonomous driving, 5G, cloud computing, and IoT — to create a better connected, smarter, and more autonomous system.

 

This smart terminal was built by Tianjin Port Group (TPG), together with Huawei and other partners, as part of its efforts to build a smart and green port.

One of the key innovative applications to address this is Huawei's self-developed, truly AI-based intelligent horizontal transportation system, which has achieved a series of "world firsts": Large-scale commercial use of ultra-L4 driverless, the world's first "5G+BeiDou" integration of ubiquitous intelligence, the world's first self-sufficiency in green electricity and zero carbon emission, etc. This achievement provides a blueprint for other parts of the world to build intelligent and low-carbon ports.

 

The results speak for themselves. On the port's visitor platform at the container terminal at Section C of Tianjin Port, container cranes operate automatically and unmanned electric container trucks come and go. At the port, remotely controlled quay cranes stably pick up containers that are loaded with cargo from cargo ships, and load these containers onto unmanned electric container trucks. Under the guidance of the BeiDou navigation satellite system, the container trucks go to the automatic locking/unlocking stations, according the optimal driving route calculated in real time, to unlock the containers, and then drive to the container yard. The whole process is completed in one go.

The intelligent and digital transformation of the port has led to tangible benefits. Previously, transporting containers to container yards within ports requires a large number of container trucks. Using human drivers is very costly. Tianjin Port currently has 76 container trucks. To ensure 24/7 operations, each container truck needs three drivers working in three shifts every day. The port needs 60% fewer staff than before.

In addition, it is exhausting for truck drivers to drive on fixed routes in three shifts, posing an obvious safety hazard. Now, Drivers (who are in high demand) now operate trucks remotely and no longer have to face dangerous, unhealthy working conditions. And each container now consumes 20% less energy, cranes are 20% more efficient on average, with each crane operating 39 container units per hour.

The terminal of Section C in the Beijiang Port Area of Tianjin Port is the first smart terminal of its kind to deploy an intelligent horizontal transport system. Looking ahead, Huawei will continue working with partners to deploy and replicate this experience in more ports, building smart ports together.

NEC 2019 Showcases Top PH Exporters, Export Enablers

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) through its Export Marketing Bureau (EMB), together with Export Development Council (EDC) and Philippine Exporters Confederation, Inc. (Philexport), recognized the top Philippine companies for their noteworthy export performance in 2018 during the National Export Congress (NEC) held at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) in Pasay City on December 06, 2019.

Also, DTI-EMB and Center for International Trade Expositions & Missions (CITEM) collaborated for the Export Enablers Exhibit which showcased trade regulatory government agencies, financial institutions, and private organizations.

The top exporters were acknowledged based on their track record, excellence, and innovation in the delivery of services. Their grit to achieve success and persistence to make Filipino products be globally competitive has contributed to the country’s export revenue.

DTI Secretary Ramon M. Lopez, DTI-Trade Promotions Group (TPG) and Special Concerns Undersecretary Abdulgani M. Macatoman, DTI-EMB Director Senen M. Perlada, Philippine Exporters Confederation, Inc. (Philexport) President Sergio R. Ortiz-Luis Jr., Philippine Chamber of Commerce & Industry (PCCI) Chairman George T. Barcelon, and DTI Assistant Secretary Angelo B. Taningco presented the awards to 21 exemplary exporters of the country.

This year’s Hall of Fame Awardee is Nestle Philippines, Inc. for Processed Food and Beverages. The Hall of Fame Award is given to exporters who were awarded consistently as Top Export Performers in the last three consecutive years.

The Top Sectoral Exporters Award were given to Amkor Technology Philippines Inc. for Electronics; B/E Aerospace B.V. (Philippine Branch) for Machinery and Transport Equipment; Lear Automotive Services (Netherlands) B.V. (Philippine branch) for Motor Vehicle Parts (Ignition Wiring Sets); Petron Corporation for Chemicals; Sumifru (Philippines) Corporation for Fresh Fruits; Platinum Group Metals Corporation for Minerals; and Cargill Oil Mills Philippines, Inc. for Coconut Oil.

Other awardees were L&T International Group Philippines, Inc. for Apparel and Clothing Accessories; Nestle Philippines, Inc. for Processed Food and Beverages; SCAD Services PTE. Ltd. for Woodcrafts (Builder’s Woodworks); FPF Corporation for Travel Goods and Handbags; and Millenium Ocean Star Corporation for Fish Shrimps and Prawns/Fresh or Preserved.

Moreover, the Excellence Award for Services Sectors were awarded to Synergy88 Group of Companies for Animation Services; Suyen Corporation (Bench) for Franchising Services; GameOps, Inc. for Game Development Services; ADEC innovations, Inc. for IT-BPM Services (Knowledge Process Outsourcing); and Alliance Software, Inc. for IT Services (Software Development).

The Excellence Award for Services Sectors is given to exporters who were excellent in their respective fields and have shown a praiseworthy contribution to the industry.

Furthermore, the Most Outstanding Ripples Plus Awards were conferred to Primex Coco Products for Luzon; Profood International Corporation for Visayas; and PHILBEST Canning Corporation for Mindanao.

The Most Outstanding Ripples Plus Award was based on Philippine Statistics Authority’s (PSA) ranking for micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs). This is also a recognition of these exporters’ remarkable success in penetrating global markets.

The exporters’ recognition aims to inspire the country’s exporting community to continuously innovate and improve. It is also to acknowledge their hard work and a testimony of the robust partnership of the government and the private sector in pursuing inclusive growth and improving the exports’ development through innovation.

Meanwhile, in line with the NEC’s theme “Driving Exports through Digital Transformation,” the organizers featured the services of the following organizations during the Export Enablers Exhibition held simultaneously with the NEC at the Mezzanine of the Plenary Hall PICC: Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), Board of Investments (BOI), Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), Bureau of Import Services (BIS), Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), CITEM, Cobena, and DTI-EMB / 1Export Trade and Services Inc.

Also featured were FedEx Express, Food and Drugs Administration (FDA), Highly Succeed, Inc. Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHIL), Keepr Storage PH, Landbank of the Philippines (LBP), Optical Media Board (OMB), Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA), PHILEXPORT, Philippine Fiber Industry Development Authority (PHILFIDA), Philippine International Trading Corporation (PITC), Philippine Trade Training Center (PTTC), Small Business Corporation (SBCorp), Strategic Trade Management Office (STMO), UnionBank | UBX, Vesl, and World Trade Center (WTC).

The NEC is the highlight event of the National Exporters' Week (NEW). Every first week of December is the annual celebration of the NEW per presidential proclamation 931, Series 0f 1996 and House Resolution 33. It highlights the government and the private sector’s commitment to continuously work together to sustain export promotion and development.

DTI Sets Up Facility for SEA Games in Support of PH Hosting

In a bid to make available options for Halal food and souvenirs for athletes, guests, and visitors of the 2019 South East Asian Games (30th SEA Games), the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), represented by the Export Marketing Bureau (EMB), Bureau of Domestic Trade Promotion (BDTP), and Regional Operations Group (ROG), has installed a temporary facility at the East Commercial Center, New Clark City, Tarlac in collaboration with Bases Conversion Development Authority (BCDA) and Philippine Exporters Confederation, Inc. (PHILEXPORT).

“This is an independent facility close to the main venue to make available food (including Halal and Muslim-friendly) and non-food products (souvenirs - Likha ng Central Luzon, Go Lokal, Bangon Marawi) in time for the 30th SEA Games. We are here to provide support and this is our way of contributing to the needs of this occasion,” DTI - Trade Promotions Group (TPG) Undersecretary Abdulgani M. Macatoman said.

This DTI initiative aims to collaborate with the private sector to make available Halal, Muslim-friendly concessionaires, and other Philippine products for the opening of the 30th SEA Games.

Featured concessionaires include La Rose Noire (Aqua Panem), Bricks and Copper, Asian Food Cuisine, Rajput Halal Pak Cuisine, Ate A Halal Food Services, and Hen Lin.

Halal Products/Retailers include Magic Melt, Greenlife Coconut Products Philippines, Inc., Batangas Egg Producers Cooperative, Mira’s Turmeric Products, and Axiom Natur Trading Corp.

The SEA Games venue in New Clark City (NCC), Capas, Tarlac is host to Aquatics (water polo, diving) and Athletics (marathon, heptathlon, decathlon, etc.) sports activities considered as significant sources of medals for the Philippines and the Athletes Village. Competition activities started last 26 November and will run up to 10 December 2019 in NCC.

DTI-EMB Leads Business Mission to Dubai

The Department of Trade and Industry-Export Marketing Bureau (DTI-EMB), together with the Philippine Trade and Investment Center (PTIC) - Dubai and Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions (CITEM), organizes the Outbound Business Matching Mission (OBMM) to Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE) for INDEX Dubai 2019 on September 13-21, 2019.

DTI-EMB invited 14 Philippine companies to participate in the business matching meetings and market sensing activities to be held at the NOVOTEL Dubai World Trade Center on September 15, 2019. The companies joining the business mission are: ARDEN Classic, Bidibidi Enterprise, Bon-Ace Fashion Tools, Coast Pacific Manufacturing Corporation, Furniture Doctor, Golden ABC, Kenro Boutique, More Than A Chair, Pascasio Pottery, DELCO Wood Producers Manufacturing/Renditions Furniture and Accessories, Cebu Homecraft, Kit Silver, Mel+Marie, and Betis Crafts.

DTI - Trade Promotions Group (TPG) Undersecretary Abdulgani M. Macatoman said that bringing the Philippines’ contract furniture, furnishings, fashion and apparel sectors in Dubai will help them gain more exposure for INDEX Dubai 2019 and in anticipation for the country’s participation in Dubai Expo 2020 presenting a golden chance to showcase the Philippine country brand.

“The mission will promote industry capabilities directly to prospective partners in UAE,” Macatoman said.

The EMB acknowledges the opportunity for industries to be able to sell to take advantage of all new market developments in the region.

“Middle East still remains to be largely untapped for Philippine lifestyle products but there are concrete indications of interest from buyers,” he added.

The main considerations for organizing this business mission include the inherent strength of the Philippine industries for furniture, furnishings, fashion and apparel; immense opportunity and potential demand in the UAE; and its reputation of being a fertile ground for company setup because of its commitment to sustainable development and economic diversification, progressive-minded government, and liberal corporate policies.

Tapping into the UAE market, the Philippines will benefit from key potential trends pointing to Dubai’s current status as a retail mecca and has seen a massive transformation in the last two decades to become the biggest trader among countries in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region.

The GCC with its young and affluent population and overall prosperity presents a very positive environment for retail businesses. Dubai continues to be a lucrative apparel and fashion market with foreign brands popular in the Arab world and fashion retailers discovering the franchise model ideally suited to Middle Eastern conditions. There is also growing niche market of fair fashion with increasing consumer awareness for sustainability, fair trade and eco compliance.

Most importantly, the UAE has a booming real estate sector with rising hotel, commercial, residential construction and housing activity following Dubai Expo 2020. It also has the potential to access many of the 430 million consumers in the wider Middle East and North Africa (MENA) market.

This EMB-led OBMM is a follow up undertaking for the Philippines to promote lifestyle products in the Middle East with the initial visit undertaken in 2015. The business matching meetings will target retailers, distributors, real estate, hotel and resort developers, interior designers, architectural firms, real estate and construction managers and fit-out contractors.

The EMB has identified mega-lifestyle show INDEX Dubai 2019 as the anchor event with Philippine participation being organized and led by DTI-EMB and CITEM. INDEX Dubai 2019 vis-à-vis the Design & Hospitality Week 2019 is the largest and most influential lifestyle exhibition in the Middle East. The show is a meeting point to: discuss options and opinions with other visitors, exhibitors, buyers and distributors; make contacts and strengthen network; or open unlimited prospects for cooperation.

INDEX Dubai 2019 is co-located with other 7 brands of shows – INDEX, The HOTEL Show, Workspace, The LEISURE Show, Surface Design, FIM and INDEX Home. Addressing every aspect of the lifestyle market, INDEX Dubai 2019 will showcase leading companies including the Philippines’ lifestyle sector that are shaping and presenting business development opportunities in all things design, lifestyle and hospitality in the UAE and across the globe.