DTI to reconfigure exports into 3 clusters as industrialization strategy

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) is reconfiguring the export industry into three clusters as a strategy to achieve industrialization, Secretary Alfredo Pascual said at the membership meeting of the Philippine Exporters Confederation, Inc. (PhilExport) last 31 August.

Pascual, who also inducted new PhilExport members, listed the clusters as: Industrial, Manufacturing, and Transport; Technology, Media, and Telecommunication; and Health and Life Sciences.

“DTI’s strategic priority [is] to reconfigure the Philippine export sectors into industry clusters… Export activities are Industry Tier I activities. They are considered as base of and fundamental to our country’s development,” he said.

“Export activities hold high potential to create jobs. They optimize value creation, and provide key support to sectors that drive industrial development, among others,” he explained.

Pascual said the country’s industrial transformation will be driven by science, technology, and innovation. He asked PhilExport’s support for this DTI strategy.

“We look forward to working with you, our exporters, in building dynamic industry ecosystems as our foundation,” he said.

In response, PhilExport President Sergio R. Ortiz-Luis Jr. said his organization will follow DTI’s guidance toward the development of the industry.

“We strongly believe that exports remain to be a major driver of this growth, if only the whole of government will truly and fully support the industry, especially with the conducive policy environment and programs,” Ortiz-Luis said.

In addition, the DTI secretary noted that to grow in scale, scope, and income, micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) must be integrated into exporting companies’ value chains.

“MSMEs are the backbone of our economy. They comprise 99.5% of about a million registered businesses in the Philippines. As MSMEs bring about a virtuous cycle of livelihood, they help make communities more prosperous and inclusive,” Pascual said.

PhilExport, the umbrella organization of Philippine exporters mandated under the Export Development Act (EDA) of 1994, held the hybrid meeting at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) and online via Zoom. At the event, Pascual inducted the new PhilExport members.