French firms to explore PH electronics market

MANILA -- Representatives of companies from the city of Angers, known as France' electronics and Internet hub, are coming to town to explore opportunities in the Philippine market.

It was announced Monday that Angers French Tech (AFT), which represents the group, will be setting up a French Pavilion in the 16th annual Philippine Semiconductor and Electronics Convention and Exhibition (PSECE) to be held next year.

This, immediately after Semiconductor and Electronics Industries of the Philippines, Inc. (SEIPI) President Dan Lachica and AFT Director for Business Development Corinne Busson-Benhammou inked a memorandum of understanding (MOU) formalizing AFT's participation in the coming event.

Busson-Benhammou said it will be the first time for Angers-based companies to come to the country and take part in an event like PSECE's exhibition. “This will be a new collaboration with new country for us because we never worked with the Philippines. The best is yet to come,” she said.

“We know that the Philippines is a good market,” added BussonBenhammou, noting that AFT will be strengthening its cooperation with the country. She mentioned that AFT and SEIPI are preparing to sign another MOU for mutual promotion events as well as opening an office for SEIPI in France.

For his part, Lachica said that there are huge opportunities for players in the local electronics sector to partner with firms from France’s “Electronic Valley”. He added that with the growth of technology, Philippine(Ched)

based electronics firms can supply to tech companies in Angers.

Meanwhile, Export Management Bureau Director Senen Perlada noted that Philippine exports to France in the last five years registered a 27-percent growth, as the Generalised Scheme of Preferences Plus (GSP+) granted by the European Union gained traction from exporters.

Philippine exports to France last year reached USD791 million. PNA