Exporters can find more markets with the country’s trade attaches as they expand their business and increase market share.
The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) will hold a forum on Dec. 3 featuring a panel discussion on market opportunities, digitalization trends and sustainable practices covering Europe, Americas, East Asia, Middle East and Africa, and Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
As part of the three-day Usapang Exports program at Conrad Manila Hotel in Pasay City, a cliniquing session with trade attaches will be conducted.
This will be followed by a session on “Sustainable and Inclusive Trade: Advancing Women Entrepreneurs in the Global Market”, which will be held in partnership with the International Trade Centre (ITC) SheTrades initiative.
During the day, the enhanced DTI MSME (micro, small and medium enterprises) Hub website will also be launched.
The MSME Hub is a promotional website for the permanent digital malls created by the Bureau of Market Development, Promotions and OTOP (BMDPO) for these firms in partnership with e-commerce platforms. It is an enhanced version of the virtual trade website which was first launched by BMDPO in 2018.
The website contains updates about the latest and upcoming marketing events of the bureau; links to the online stores of the MSMEs assisted by the bureau and onboarded to the Unionbank GlobalLinker e-commerce platform; Sisidlan catalogue which serves as a comprehensive online resource featuring the products of MSMEs; success stories of these firms; and an interactive directory of MSME suppliers.
Other key sessions under Usapang Exports include maximizing the benefits of free trade agreements (FTA) between the Philippines and Japan toward sustainable trade, and the “ARISE Plus Philippines” aiming to contribute to unlock business opportunities for MSMEs in the European Union market.
The Philippine FTA information portal will also be launched.
The conduct of the Usapang Exports is part of the National Exporters’ Week (NEW) which will kick off in the first week of December.
The highlight of NEW celebration is the National Export Congress on Dec. 5, focusing on the adoption of sustainable practices as an important strategy in sustaining competitiveness and growth of Philippine exports.
A masterclass will be held on Dec. 6 which will feature EU market access for local food businesses, and EU deforestation regulation.
Other activities during the 2024 NEW are the Exporters’ Exhibit. The flagship activity, the Export Enablers Exhibit, recognizes the invaluable role of key export enablers including trade regulatory government agencies, financing institutions, startups, and business support organizations in supporting the development and growth of Philippine exports.
Carrying this year’s theme “Sustainability: Shaping the Future of Philippine Exports”, the NEW is an annual event organized by the DTI-Export Marketing Bureau in partnership with the Export Development Council and the Philippine Exporters Confederation, Inc. pursuant to Presidential Proclamation No. 931, series of 1996, which declared the first week of December as the NEW.
