by admin | Sep 6, 2017 | Business, National News
MAKATI—There is a way to make artificial intelligence (AI) work for the sector of the business process outsourcing (BPO), amidst threats that this technology posts on our major services industry, the country’s trade chief said.
A product of the fast pace changes in technology, AI has presented itself more than just a new technology but as a threat to the current employees servicing the service export industry and the BPO, including the contact centers.
“Let us retool and reposition the nature of the current jobs in the industry,” said Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Ramon Lopez, in the course of pessimistic prediction that AI could potentially diminish 45 to 50% of the approximately 1.2 million Filipino employees of the BPO industry.
Sec. Lopez cited these possible solutions coming from his recent collaboration with Dr. Dado Banatao, a renowned Filipino technology entrepreneur based in Silicon Valley, in order to minimize the impact of AI on job displacements. Together with the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), the Philippine Association of State Universities and Colleges (PASUC) and the Unite States Agency for International Development (USAID), the group is currently working on building an inclusive, innovation ecosystem (government-academe-industry network) that will infuse science and technology, and innovation in industries including agriculture and services.
The AI technology enables computers to provide answers or solutions to problems raised in contact center transactions. Through programming, and deep learning technology, several databases are processed at faster speed and the computer processors are able to respond and recommend actions to callers.
“We need to train affected BPO employees and strategically orient them on the emerging technology requirements of the industry that will enable them to continuously improve job performance. In other words, making use of technology in their jobs rather than being displaced by it,” said Sec. Lopez.
“In simpler terms, we will endeavor to make this new technology work for them,” he added.
The trade chief said that intensive education and training programs for those in the industry should be developed soon by the academe, government and industry innovation ecosystem to ensure least manpower displacement.
He also underscored the need to develop an inclusive, innovation-led industrial ecosystem that will upgrade the competitiveness of the Philippine core sectors, including the services sector, in a bid to improve productivity, output generation. This is in line with President Rodrigo Duterte’s agenda to build competitive industries that will generate more jobs and income, reduce inequality and give a more comfortable life for every Filipino, according to Sec. Lopez.
DTI and DOST will lead the convening of all enablers in the innovation ecosystem to map out the overall framework and programs to be implemented.
“There is a need to strengthen curriculum towards computer science, engineering, data science and AI application design, among others. This effort is also deemed to be inclusive as disqualified BPO applicants and retrenched agents will be retrained for AI application development that will eventually enable them to get jobs,” Sec. Lopez concluded.
by admin | Sep 5, 2017 | Business, National News
The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) will conduct a Public Consultation on the proposed Department Administrative Order (DAO) on the Revised Rules and Regulations Implementing the Business Name Law this coming September 14 from 8:00 to 11:30 in the morning at the Marco Polo Hotel, Nivel Hills, Apas, Cebu City.
According to DTI, the said DAO aims to further streamline and simplify procedures on business name registration to make DTI frontline service truly efficient and business-friendly.
In view of recent developments, particularly the government’s Ease of Doing Business Program, revision of Rules and Regulations on the Business Name Law has been made to keep it aligned with the said program, by consolidating several DTI issuances relevant to Act No. 3883.
A copy of the draft DAO may be downloaded from the DTI (www.dti.gov.ph) and PBR (business.gov.ph) websites for your information.
Considering that participation to the public consultation is on a first come-first-serve basis, those interested are encouraged to confirm attendance with Regina Verame at MaReginaVerame@dti.gov.ph or call telephone number (032) 255-0036/ 37 local 302 not later than September 12, 2017.#
Attachments area
by admin | Sep 4, 2017 | National News
PASAY CITY—Following the successful hosting of the ASEAN Economic Ministers’ Retreat in March, the Philippines (PH), as current Chair of ASEAN 2017, stands ready to host once again a series of high-level meetings among economic ministers of the 10 Member States of ASEAN and the region’s trade partners.
As the biggest formal gathering of high-level economic officials this year, the 49th ASEAN Economic Ministers’ (AEM) Meeting and Related Meetings will run from 6 to 11 September 2017. The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) is set to lead the occasion with Secretary Ramon M. Lopez as the AEM Chair and DTI Undersecretary Ceferino S. Rodolfo as AEM PH Lead.
Since the adoption of the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) Blueprint 2025 last year and the Consolidated Strategic Action Plan (CSAP) in February 2017 in Manila, community building efforts have intensified under the Philippines’ Chairmanship of ASEAN.
As the lead agency for the AEC Pillar, DTI together with member agencies of the Committee for AEC or CAEC (National Economic and Development Authority, Department of Foreign Affairs, Department of Finance, Department of Agriculture, Department of Tourism, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Department of Labor and Employment, Department of Science and Technology, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, Board of Investments, Bureau of Customs, Presidential Management Staff, and Tariff Commission) have been pushing strategic measures that are aligned with the PH thematic priority on pursuing an “inclusive, innovation-led growth.” CAEC is an inter-agency coordination body tasked to facilitate policy formulation, and supervises the implementation of the AEC 2025
Increasing trade and investment, integrating the micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in the global value chains, and developing an innovation-driven economy are the identified strategic measures to achieve said thematic priority.
Under this year’s Chairmanship, PH’s priority deliverables include strategic measures pushing for an ASEAN-wide Self-certification Scheme, introducing a more robust method for AEC compliance monitoring through the ASEAN Seamless Trade Facilitation Indicators (ASTFI) and Review Mechanism for AEC, fostering a more facilitative and transparent trade in services regime sector through the ASEAN Trade in Services Agreement (ATISA) negotiations, and strengthening investments through the Focused and Strategic (FAST) Action Agenda on Investment, and enhancing intra-regional connectivity and bolstering socio-economic growth in the regions through the launch of the ASEAN Roll-on Roll-off (RORO) Shipping Network.
PH is also introducing Inclusive Business in ASEAN, mainstreaming Women Economic Empowerment in AEC, and supporting cross-border trade and ecosystem of entrepreneurship based on technology and innovation through E-Commerce and the ASEAN Declaration on Innovation.
PH’s membership in ASEAN is seen as a means to further enhance the country’s competitiveness and reap the full benefits of participation in closer ASEAN regional economic integration.
ASEAN trade ministers will also meet their counterparts from Australia, Canada, China, Hong Kong, India, Japan, Korea, New Zealand, Russia, and the United States. These series of meetings will enable and exchange views on global and regional economic developments, as well as include discussions on trade agreements and economic cooperation mechanisms with these countries.
“At the end of the day, what will value is how these meetings concretely translate to creating more and better opportunities for ASEAN citizens to experience inclusive growth that leads to region-wide prosperity, as we partner for change and engage the world,” said Sec. Lopez, referring to this year’s theme of PH’s chairmanship of ASEAN.
Sec. Lopez is also scheduled to have bilateral meetings on the sidelines to discuss important trade and economic concerns and explore commercial opportunities.
“We see ASEAN as a platform where we can regionalize our national interests. Our collective efforts will lead us towards earning takeaways that will truly resonate to the country’s economic thrusts, and in turn to the benefit of our people,” said Usec. Rodolfo.
Alongside engagements with external partners are dialogues with the private sector and business councils including ASEAN Business Advisory Council (ABAC), Canada – ASEAN Business Council (CABC), ASEAN – Korea Business Council (AKBC), US – ASEAN Business Council (USABC), Australian Chamber of Commerce (AustCham), Australia-New Zealand Business Council (ANZBC), Federation of Japanese Chambers of Commerce and Industry Association (FJCCIA), East Asia Business Council (EABC) and ASEAN-India Business Council (AIBC) in order to recognize their significant contribution in producing appropriate policy options and recommendations to further facilitate ASEAN’s deeper economic integration.
by admin | Aug 30, 2017 | National News
MAKATI—Following the double-digit expansion in Philippine (PH) export as reported by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), the country also sustained its leading position in terms of Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) for the manufacturing sector at 53.9, the highest among ASEAN Member States.
“The 14% expansion in export was on the back of a robust PMI for manufacturing at 53.9, the highest among ASEAN countries,” said DTI Secretary Ramon Lopez, who also serves as chair of the ASEAN Economic Ministers’ (AEM) Meetings.
Viet Nam’s PMI is at 52.5, Thailand at 50.4, Singapore at 50.3, Indonesia at 49.5, Myanmar at 49.4 and Malaysia at 46.9.
“The PMI is an indicator of the manufacturing sector’s health, with indices above 50 signaling improvement in business conditions while those below 50 show deterioration,” explained Sec. Lopez.
“This favorable PMI is driven by robust domestic consumption and resurgent exports,” he added.
DTI earlier reported that PH exports withstood a slowdown in external demand in June and finished a strong first semester performance, ensuring that exports are both resilient and diversified in terms of products and markets.
Total merchandise exports for the period January to June 2017 stood at USD 31.04 billion, expanding by 14% over the USD 27.33 billion posted during the same period in 2016.
Said expansion was mainly due to high growth rates of exports to newly revived markets of the People’s Republic of China (including Hongkong SAR), as well as the European Union (EU), which gives the Philippines a Generalized Scheme of Preference Plus (GSP+) status, wherein more than 6,000 product lines enjoy duty free entry into the EU market.
Meanwhile, the depreciation of the peso against a backdrop of low inflation rate has also made PH export products more competitive in prices, thus contributing favorably to this surge in exports, according to DTI.
DTI continues to implement programs and projects to sustain robust exports growth. A centerpiece program is the revitalization of the manufacturing industry through the Manufacturing Resurgence Program (MRP) and, in partnership with the private sector, the crafting of currently 36 industry roadmaps geared to enhance the capacity and productivity of domestic industries to produce high value added commodities for both domestic and export markets.
“We remain committed to easing the cost of doing business in the country. We have been collaborating with other government agencies and the private sector in initiatives that will simplify doing business,” the trade chief said.
DTI’s presence can be felt nationwide through 17 Regional Offices that are ready to assist exporters all over the country, to facilitate a conducive environment for businesses and to ensure provision of technical assistance and the needed shared service facilities.
DTI is also assisting exporters with enhanced market intelligence through its 27 international posts
by admin | Aug 24, 2017 | National News
MAKATI—Philippine (PH) exports weathered a slowdown in external demand in June to register a strong first semester performance, the country’s trade chief said.
“We always ensure that exports are both resilient and diversified in terms of products and markets,” Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Ramon Lopez said.
Total merchandise exports for the period January to June 2017 stood at USD 31.04 billion, expanding by 14% over the USD 27.33 billion posted during the same period in 2016.
Said expansion is seen almost among all the country’s major export markets, with the People’s Republic of China (including Hongkong SAR) as the country’s top export destination, followed by Japan and the United States (US), according to him.
Electronics, non-electronics show off
Preliminary data from the Philippine Statistics Authority showed that the 15% growth of Non-electronics exports outpaced the 12.05% rise in Electronics, accounting for almost equally at 50.1% and 49.9%, respectively, of total merchandise exports.
“The stronger performance of Non-Electronics products vis-à-vis Electronics reflects DTI’s efforts to diversify merchandise exports and improve market mix,” Sec. Lopez added.
For the first semester of 2017, receipts of the following non-electronics increased: Mineral products (81%), Chemicals (11%), Coconut (78%), Footwear (70%), Furniture & Fixtures (43%), Processed Food & Beverages (29%), Machinery & Transport Equipment (24%), Garments (23%), Travel Goods and Handbags (8%), and Iron and Steel (4%).
DTI Undersecretary and Board of Investments (BOI) Managing Head Ceferino Rodolfo confirmed that non-electronics have been accounting for a bigger share of total exports from an average of 40% in 2006-2010 to a 54% average in 2011-2016.
“DTI has been partnering with relevant agencies, industry associations as well as specific exporters in improving PH leadership in certain sectors such as in activated carbon, oleochemicals, bananas, pineapples, tuna, and carrageenan/seaweeds and other algae, where assistance to improve quality and quantity of supply is top-most of the agenda,” said Usec. Rodolfo.
DTI also creates more conducive exporting environment for sectors that have crossed or is close to crossing the USD 1 billion value of exports such as travel goods, handbags, footwear and apparel, aircraft parts, coconut, transport services, construction materials such as builders’ joinery and carpentry of wood including wood panels.
Expanding exports, shifting markets
In terms of PH markets, PH’s expansion in exports can be seen in almost all of PH’s export partners, with PROC (including Hongkong SAR) being top export destination, followed by Japan, the United States (US), Singapore, Korea, Thailand, Germany, The Netherlands and Taiwan. PH shipments to almost all these country destinations increased.
According to Usec. Rodolfo, it is worth noting that currently, ASEAN and East Asian neighbors accounted for about 63% of total PH exports, while the US and the European Union (EU) accounted almost equally for 14.7% and 14.9%, respectively, as a result of our pursuit of active trade relations due to opportunities resulting from ASEAN’s free trade agreements with China, Korea, Australia and India.
“We have been seeing in recent years the gradual shift in market distribution leading to a balance in market diversity,” said Sec. Lopez.
While the US continues to be one of PH’s top export destinations, its share to PH total exports has declined from 8% in 2006-2010 to 6% in 2011-2016. Stronger relations with PH neighbors made ASEAN a consistent market for bulk of our products.
China, in recent years, has also emerged as a consistent top market for PH export products, validating PH’s pursuit of an independent foreign policy as the country opens up to new trade partners and finds new markets and new value chain linkages for trade and investments. China accounted for the fastest growth rate at 34%.
“Recent data also showed exports to EU posted strong growth at about 36% due to greater number of utilization of Generalized Scheme of Preferences Plus (GSP+) trade privileges where over 6,000 product lines have 0% tariff duty,” said Sec. Lopez.
The trade chief added that the immense goodwill shown by President Rodrigo Duterte to other nations has resulted to re-strengthened ties not only with China but also with the Middle East. The benefits of special trade arrangements with EU also led to faster export growth in many countries.
Semiconductors drive electronic growth
Semiconductors, which accounted for 72% share of total electronics exports and 36% share of total PH exports, expanded by 12%, driving the growth in electronics. The share of electronics sector to total merchandise exports has been reduced from an average high of 60% in 2006-2010 to 46% average for 2011-2016.
The strong global growth in 2017, particularly the surge of global electronics demand, augurs well with the implementation of the regional industrialization plan of the CALABARZON area, which will diversify electronics exports especially in the production of auto electronics parts and components and business expansion towards merging manufacturing with IT through engineering services outsourcing and other areas.
Electronics exports are concentrated in the CALABARZON area, specifically in Laguna, where sales reached almost USD 7 billion for a remarkable growth rate of 146%, and in Cavite, with exports valued at USD 3 billion for a 72% growth. Together, Laguna and Cavite accounted for almost 60% of total electronics exports.
“We are off to a good first semester. The second semester should see us further raising our game to boost PH exports for a bigger share of the global market,” Sec. Lopez concluded.
by admin | Aug 23, 2017 | Headlines, National News
The Philippines, through the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), ASEAN Women Entrepreneurs’ Network (AWEN) and the Philippine Commission on Women (PCW), brings women business leaders and disruptors together as through the ASEAN Women’s Business Conference (AWBC) on 31 August 2017 at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) in Pasay City.
The conference will put forward the women agenda in the business and economic landscape in ASEAN. It will gather ASEAN women business leaders, government representatives, officials from ASEAN dialogue partners and representatives from supporting international organizations.
AWBC with the theme, “ASEAN Women: Leading Change,” will highlight three sub-themes: Women Innovators in ASEAN, Women in Trade and Inclusive Business, and Women and Human Capital Development.
“This will be an opportunity for the Philippines to lead discussions between ASEAN, the private sector, and our dialogue partners about the current state of women in the economic and business sector. This will also support our stronger call for a truly inclusive, innovation-led growth in ASEAN,” said DTI Trade and Investments Promotion Group Undersecretary and ASEAN CBIP Chairperson Nora K. Terrado.
AWEN Chair Pacita “Chit” Juan reiterated private and public sector collaboration as integral in achieving key outcomes for the advancement of women in various fronts.
“AWEN, as chaired by the Philippines until 2018, will be instrumental in making collaboration and cooperation as integral elements in giving a stronger voice for women within the ASEAN region. As a network, it allows women to discuss issues and concerns in women’s economic participation particularly in innovation and technology, accessing markets, and finance,” explained Juan.
Events supported by ASEAN dialogue partners are also set to take place at the PICC on28-30 August.
On 28 August, Women ICT Frontier Initiative (WIFI), the flagship activity of the United Nations Asian and Pacific Training Center for Information and Communication Technology for Development (UN-APCICT), will hold its ASEAN Sub-Regional Launch at the PICC. As a key program advancing women’s potential in utilizing information and communication technologies (ICT), APCICT partners with AWEN in the promotion of ICT in advancing businesses as well as the capacity of government business leaders in creating an enabling environment for ICT-empowered women entrepreneurs.
Meanwhile, the Philippines-Australia ASEAN Women in Business Forum will be held on 29 August. The event expects women representatives and leaders from ASEAN and Australia.
For more information about the ASEAN Women events, kindly contactawen.asean@gmail.com.
