SEIPI, DTI embark on business mission to US

The Semiconductor and Electronics Industries in the Philippines Foundation Inc. (SEIPI) and the Departments of Trade and Industry (DTI) and Science and Technology are conducting a business mission to the US to promote investments and tie-ups in the industry.

In a statement, the DTI said the mission to Silicon Valley is the first involving the government, academe and industry players.

SEIPI president Dan Lachica said the mission coincides with the Consumer Electronics Show which gathers firms engaged in the business of consumer technologies being held in Las Vegas from Jan.8 to 11.

The aim is to promote the Philippines as a strong player in the global electronics supply chain, as well as give way to new business leads, partnerships for direct contracts, joint ventures, investments, business expansions, and exchange of technology.

“It presents the delegation an opportunity to network with key industry players from around the world and be updated on technology trends, innovations, and supply chain developments of a variety of global electronic brands,” Lachica said.

Part of the business mission are Philippine firms Fastech Advanced Assembly, First Asia Venture Capital Inc., Integrated Micro-Electronics Inc., Ionics EMS Inc., and Testech Group, which all aim to get business leads with key players in Silicon Valley through info-sessions and business matching activities.

In addition to business meetings and networking activities, the mission involves discussions on innovation culture and supply chain with global hardware line, a technology session with a venture capital firm, and meeting with the global headquarters of a large industry association.

A networking night with Silicon Valley-based start-up firms has also been organized for the members of the mission.

To support the country’s major research and development (R&D) activities such as smart agriculture and renewable energy, the DOST has co-arranged a meeting with the University of California, Berkeley.

There will also be a visit to the Marvell NanoFabrication Lab and a meeting with global Filipino technology innovator and 2018 Ramon V. Del Rosario Sr. awardee Dado Banatao to enable members of the delegation to gain insights in the development of the SEIPI Science and Technology Center which will house the future IC Design Center, Lab-Scale Wafer Fab, and R&D Lab, which are proposed in the Product and Technology Holistic Strategy (PATHS) roadmap.

The business mission is being conducted in line with the PATHS which identifies niche products and technologies the Philippines should focus on in the next five years.

DTI export marketing bureau executive director Senen Perlada said the mission is pursuant to the Philippine Development Plan (PDP) 2017 to 2022 and the Philippine Export Development Plan 2018 to 2022.

“It aims to meet the PDP objectives and export targets by improving the overall climate for export development, exploiting existing prospective opportunities from trading arrangements, and designing comprehensive support for selected products and services sectors, among others,” he said.

At present, electronics are the country’s biggest merchandise exports.

As of the end of November, the country’s electronics exports reached $34.87 billion.

In 2017, the country’s total electronics exports hit an alltime high of $32.7 billion.