President Aquino has signed the Philippine Export Development Plan (PEDP), a blueprint which details strategies to boost outward shipments of locally-produced goods in the next three years.
The Philippine Exporters’ Confederation Inc. (Philexport) lauded Malacañang’s belated approval of PEDP 2015-2017, which had been in the backburner since December 2014. Memorandum Circular No. 91 was signed on February 4.
PEDP reflects the optimism of the private sector and the government that exports will do well this year despite a 5.6-percent drop in exports last year and the Export Marketing Bureau’s projection that outward shipments would conract by as much as 4 percent this year.
“The service sector continues to grow and we expect the world market to improve,” said Philexport President Sergio R. Ortiz-Luis Jr.
Among the strategies outlined in the PEDP include designing comprehensive packages of support for selected emerging and key export sectors, and removing unnecessary regulatory impediments to the movement of goods and delivery of services. In implementing “packages of support for selected export sectors,” a significant component of the plan is the conduct of a global value-chain analysis that will identify products and market opportunities for local exporters.
Earlier, Trade Secretary Adrian S. Cristobal Jr. said President Aquino himself told agencies that are part of the Export Development Council to “study well the emerging trends in technology, and stay ahead of the curve and to think of new products. He also puts emphasis on creating a healthy environment for start-ups.”
As part of its task of aiding micro, small and medium enterprises, Cristobal announced the start of the process of making a road map and work program for the start-up community.
The Department of Trade and Industry has been implementing its Industry Development Program since 2012. The program entails implementing interventions, specified in a ‘road map’ crafted by the local industries and sectors, in a bid to improve their competitiveness.
Local industries crafted the road maps in consultation with the DTI’s Board of Investments.