Exporters told: Make offerings stand out
EXPORTERS are encouraged to make their offerings stand out in the overseas markets, as the government continues to focus on enhancing its initiatives to make exports a main industry that could drive Philippine economic growth and development.
Nora Terrado, Undersecretary for Trade and Investments Promotion Group (TIPG) at the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), said they need to prepare the “right ingredients and add distinc- tive spices” to make their offerings emerge in the world.
“There are a lot of things that are changing. We are so used to looking at the merchandise exports. One of the emerging components in export now is content. It is the glue that combines together where products are being serviced and services are being productized,” she said.
To develop both products and services, and exporters themselves, Terrado noted the government has been implementing the Regional Interactive Platform for Philippine Exporters (Ripples) Plus program.
“Ripples provides practical assistance geared towards the internationalization of the MSMES (micro, small and medium enterprises) and the expansion of opportunities also for large enterprises and the scaling up of the MSMES so that we can enrich the missing middle, or the medium enterprises,” she said, adding that it also conducts events and outbound trade missions to major overseas markets.
“I must say that outbound and inbound missions have been made more relevant, and specialized in order for us to capture opportunities in the world. For example, things such as Halal, the organic sector, and many more,” she added.
Terrado believes the export sector’s “tremendous contribution” can make the country’s growth inclusive for everyone./philexport News and Features