by admin | Feb 23, 2018 | DTI Updates, National News
23 February 2018 – To mark the 31st founding anniversary of the Philippine Trade Training Center (PTTC) on February 27, 2018, a series of seminars will be conducted on the same day until February 28, 2018. The PTTC is the trade training arm of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).
The two-day event will offer seminars on food safety, innovation, e-commerce and exports for a total of 15 training programs. Activities include a special forum entitled “Towards Inclusive Prosperity for the Filipino MSMEs” in partnership with Ureka while businesses with required permits and business registration documents may also have the chance to sign up for e-commerce platform. Registration is free to interested participants on a first come, first served basis.
PTTC invites all the MSMEs, with special mention to women entrepreneurs, to attend the two-day training program. More information on the schedules of the seminars are available at the www.pttc.gov.ph or Facebook page at www.facebook.com/DTI.PTTC.
by admin | Feb 23, 2018 | Business, DTI Updates, Headlines
Global buyers are up for an exciting showcase of the Philippines’ premier seafood and other food segments in the International Food Exhibition (IFEX) Philippines, the country’s biggest export-oriented food show, on May 25-27 at the World Trade Center Metro Manila, Pasay City.
Organized by the Department of Trade and Industry‐Center for Trade Expositions and Mission (DTI‐CITEM), IFEX Philippines 2018 will stage its first special edition featuring “The Best of the Seas,” focusing on the fast-growing seafood market in the Philippine regions and other Asian countries.
“Now an annual event, IFEX Philippines continues to be the largest and widely anticipated food trade event in the country,” said Nora K. Terrado, DTI Undersecretary for Trade and Investments Promotion Group and CITEM Officer-in-Charge (OIC).
“For its 12th edition, we will highlight the Philippines’ finest seafood to satisfy the growing global demand for marine product and coastal cuisines, along with other exquisite food products across the globe”, added Terrado.
As one of the official business events during the country’s hosting of ASEAN in 2017, last year’s IFEX Philippines opened more trade opportunities and innovations around the world with the showcase of Philippines’ best and overseas participation of the European Union (EU), China, South Korea, Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand and other countries.
The three-day event was attended by nearly 11,000 international and local visitors, including 2,057 high-profile trade buyers from top global retail giants and supermarkets. These buyers came from different regions across the globe, such as Europe, China and SARs, Middle East, East Asia, America and Southeast Asia.
For its 12th edition, the IFEX Philippines will excite buyers with the country’s top and emerging food export companies to promote Philippine food products and strengthen links with buyers, importers, and retailers in the global market. Meanwhile, the event will also put up an International Hall to host the top seafood and non‐marine products of leading companies and manufacturers from other participating countries.
Making a flavorful splash in its seafood edition, IFEX Philippines will also stage the Regional Seafood Pavilion, a regional showcase of world‐class seafood products and ingredients locally sourced from the coasts and diverse marine environments across the Philippine archipelago.
“We are tapping the country’s most marine-abundant coastal regions from Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. This is where we will bring key suppliers to make it easier for buyers to source in one pavilion the best fish and marine products, such as tuna, milkfish, prawns, tilapia, and other seafood from the Philippines,” said Terrado.
The Coastal Culinary Cuisine will then complete the culinary journey in a dynamic presentation of the Philippines’ most iconic and distinct regional seafood cuisines from top international and local experts to give an exquisite experience of the country’s heirloom flavors and traditions.
The Marketplace is also open for a one‐stop retail experience of premium food products ranging from seafood products, fruits and vegetables, meat and poultry, processed foods, homemade regional delicacies, and many more.
For those in want of much more inspiration and adventure, visiting buyers and exhibiting companies can also attend export and investment seminars to get new ideas and updates on the latest regulations, trends, and innovations in the food industry from renowned experts, researchers, lecturers and members of the academe.
The 12th edition of IFEX Philippines is supported by the Department of Agriculture (DA) and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR).
Interested companies/exhibitor may contact Ms. Alex Lucas at 831-2137, or send an inquiry at alucas@citem.com.ph.
by admin | Feb 8, 2018 | DTI Updates, National News
08 February 2018 Manila – The Go Negosyo center of the Department of Trade and Industry and PLDT Enterprise partner to launch “A Growing Collaboration for the Filipino”, on February 12, 2018 at the Isabela Ballroom B & C, Makati Shangri-la Hotel. The event will promote the use of digital tools that will enable entrepreneurs to have a wider reach through a nationwide marketplace, providing wider market access for MSMEs across the country.
The event will also launch PLDT’s PayMaya, the first prepaid online payment app that enables the financially underserved to pay online without a credit card. Demonstrating how PayMaya works is a Go Lokal! pop up exhibit during the event where guests can buy Go Lokal! products via PayMaya.
Go Lokal! is a retail concept store which showcases high quality, innovative Philippine products designed, crafted and manufactured by the country’s MSMEs. The GoLokal!ConceptStore@DTI is located at the Groundfloor, Trade and Industry Bldg, 361 Sen. Gil Puyat Avenue, Makati City. For more information on Go Lokal! and its store outlets, please visit golokal.dti.gov.ph.
by admin | Feb 2, 2018 | DTI Updates, National News
ILIGAN – The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) awarded 1,500 livelihood packages as well as 0%-interest microfinance loans to the internally displaced people (IDP) of the Marawi siege during the DTI Negosyo Seminar Para sa Marawi on 30 January 2018.
“We want to assure the IDPs that President Duterte’s administration continues to provide more business and livelihood opportunities through the DTI Negosyo Seminars being given to help them recover soon,” said DTI Secretary Ramon Lopez.
There were 1,500 participants and beneficiaries who attended the Negosyo Seminar. One of them was Mr. Alikman Nata, who intends to share the benefits of the livelihood package to his group, the Lanao Muslim Youth Association.
As the head of Bangon Marawi’s Subcommittee in Business and Livelihood, DTI had earlier distributed 588 livelihood packages and conducted Negosyo trainings to 1,963 IDPs as of December 2017. There were also 240 beneficiaries who were linked to financial institutions.
The Department also allocated Php 50 million this year to fund the Shared Service Facilities (SSF), providing Maranao entrepreneurs with facilities and knowledge that match their business needs. This is apart from the budget provision to support other Bangon Marawi programs in providing mobile rice mills, tricycles, vehicles, and the construction of public markets.
DTI flew in different business experts to teach business preparedness, opportunities spotting, product development and marketing, financial literacy, and franchising.
by admin | Feb 1, 2018 | DTI Updates, Headlines
Makati City, Philippines – The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), through the Construction Industry Authority of the Philippines – Philippine Overseas Construction Board (CIAP-POCB), and the Board of Investments, with the Commercial Section of the Philippine Embassy in Seoul, Korea received a delegation of twelve (12) Korean companies on 29 to 30 January 2018.
The Business Forum held on 30 January 2018 at the Sofitel Philippine Plaza gathered over a hundred distinguished government representatives and movers in the construction, infrastructure, and energy industries, led by DTI Undersecretary for Competitiveness and Ease of Doing Business Rowel S. Barba, Philippine Ambassador to Korea Raul Hernandez, ASEAN-Korea Center Secretary General Ambassador Young-sun Kim, and Republic of Korea Ambassador to the Philippines Dong Han Man.
Presenting opportunities in the Philippines were Board of Investments Director Angelica Cayas on Investments and Build Build Build Committee Chairman Anna Mae Lamentillo and PPP Director Frances Yani Domingo on the Philippine Government’s infrastructure projects. International Contractors Association of Korea (ICAK) Deputy General Tae-wan Kim and counterpart Philippine Overseas Construction Board Member Mr. Michael Robert Reyes were also in attendance. CIAP, though the POCB, endeavors to cultivate strategic ties with South Korea with the end in view of developing the construction industry of both nations.
One-on-One Business Meetings between Korean and Filipino companies followed the forum to discuss areas of collaboration on infrastructure, energy, and construction, both in the Philippines and in Korea.
Over dinner of Pampango cuisine, the Philippine Contractors Accreditation Board (PCAB), one of five implementing boards of the Construction Industry Authority of the Philippines, discussed the licensing and accreditation process for foreign construction companies under the Quadruple A category which allow firms with 100% foreign equity to participate in infrastructure projects in the Philippines. PCAB also discussed how South Korean firms may acquire a special license for singular/specific projects through consortium or joint venture with Filipino companies.
With the recently approved Quadruple A category of PCAB, the agency expects a surge in foreign investments in construction and infrastructure. Construction investments for the first to third quarter of 2017, amounted to PHP627.4B or USD12.5B, a 6.8% increase compared to the same period in 2016. Of this, 25.9% is attributed to Government infrastructure spending equivalent to PHP162.7B or USD3.3B and 74.1% or PHP464.7B(USD9.3B) from private construction activities. Government construction activities increased by 10.0% while private construction activities increased by 5.8% compared to same period in 2016.
by admin | Jan 24, 2018 | DTI Updates, Headlines
THE Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), as the lead agency in developing and promoting the Philippine halal industry, is set to implement initiatives toward the development of the country’s Halal exports highlighting its potential contribution in driving trade and investments in the country.
Speaking at the recent World Halal Assembly held in Manila last 18 and 19 January, DTI Trade and Investments Promotion Group Assistant Secretary Abdulgani M. Macatoman cited figures validating the need for the Philippines to get involved in halal export, import and production.
“Muslim population worldwide has been steadily growing at a 1.84 percent per annum. In 2016 Muslim population was at 2.14 billion, growing to 2.18 billion in 2017. At present, 32.43 percent of Asia’s current population of 1.4 billion is Muslim. In Africa, there are 635 million Muslims. World Muslim population translates to a $3.2- trillion halal industry worldwide. It is expected to increase to $10 trillion by 2030,” explained Assistant Secretary Macatoman.
He added, “the sheer size of underserved markets makes it easier to penetrate the industry. There are simply more people who need Halal products and services than there are existing businesses.”
At present, the Philippines only contributes five (5) percent of the global halal trade. With the new Philippine halal law in place, Assistant Secretary Macatoman explained that Filipino entrepreneurs are in the best position to take advantage of the rising halal industry worldwide. According to him, Filipino Muslims naturally understand what the global market wants and needs, being part of the market themselves.
“Filipino entrepreneurs like the ones based in Zamboanga are in a unique position to take advantage of this trend, particularly the efforts of the Zamboanga Ecozone and Freeport and Regional Economic Zone Authority of the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao. Preparation of halal food and fashion pieces requires a great understanding and obedience to Muslim culture, and we Filipinos have a great grasp of this culture and unique practices,” said Assistant Secretary Macatoman.
Assistant Secretary Macatoman also emphasized the importance of having harmonious halal certification and accreditation policies and standards for the Philippines to improve its integrity and credibility both at the national and the international communities.
The DTI’s Philippine Accreditation Bureau (PAB)—as the sole agency mandated by the Philippine halal law to handle the accreditation of halal-certification bodies, inspection bodies and testing and calibration laboratories—is currently developing the national halal-certification scheme that will embody the official guidelines for the accreditation of all Philippine halal-certification bodies that wish to be accredited by the PAB.
Organized by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST)-Region 11, the World Halal Assembly was in line with the DOST’s mandate under Republic Act 10817, known as the Philippine Halal Export Development and Promotion Program Act of 2016, which took effect after its implementing rules and regulations were approved on July 26, 2017.
Islamic scholars, Muslim academicians and scientists, international certification bodies, government officials, entrepreneurs and Muslim and non-Muslim consumers were in attendance during the conference.
