Aquino okays 3-year export dev’t strategy

President Aquino has approved a three-year export strategy for the country called the Philippine Export Development Plan (PEDP) 2011 to 2013 that was presented by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) after a series of consultations with the private sector and other stakeholders through the DTI’s Export Development Council (EDC).

Under the PEDP, Philippine exports are forecast to double and reach $120 billion by 2016. The export growth target is also expected to increase the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) by 58 percent and provide 9.1 million job opportunities by 2016.

“The PEDP synergizes the export agenda of the government and the private sector and the President has expressed his support to the development plan to move the agenda forward,” Trade and Industry Secretary Gregory Domingo said.

During the presentation of the export plan, Aquino likewise affirmed his support to the exporting community and welcomed proposals under the PEDP on how to address the common concerns of Philippine exporters.

“We build on the gains from our key export products and growing demand from emerging markets over the past years. We saw remarkable average export growth of $58 billion in 2008 until 2010 and we expect to sustain this through several core product and market strategies under the PEDP,” Undersecretary for International Trade Adrian Cristobal Jr. said.

The PEDP is anchored on key products, markets, and promotions strategies that seek to further develop the country’s key export sectors. These export sectors are: IT/BPO and other services, electronics, agribusiness (fresh, processed, marine food products and coconut), minerals, shipbuilding, motor vehicle parts, garments and textile, home style, and wearables.

The PEDP strategies were based in the context of new realities in the global supply chain, international negotiations, and innovations in export marketing and promotions.

The PEDP adopts a three-pronged strategy namely product, market, and promotions strategies to boost exports.

The product strategies are: moving up the value chain, capturing higher value processes in the global supply chain, and developing product linkages for organic, natural, and certification-enabled products.

The market strategies include: maximizing the benefits of free trade agreements or FTAs, targeting high growth emerging markets, and attracting the migration of supply chain nodes to the Philippines.

The plan also outlined several promotions strategies namely: focused promotions, high-impact and high-level in-bound fairs and missions linked with tourism opportunities; and comprehensive and unified country branding.

Based on historical data, every one percent increase in exports has been associated with 0.58 percent expansion in the GDP. On one hand, every one percent increase in GDP is related to the creation of 157,000 new jobs. –Ayen Infante, Daily Tribune