by admin | Dec 8, 2017 | Headlines, Photo Story
PH gains membership in Int’l Halal Accreditation Forum. Positive developments await for the Philippine Halal industry as the Philippine Accreditation Bureau (PAB) of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) formally signed on 6 December 2017 a full membership agreement with the International Halal Accreditation Forum (IHAF). Being a full member of the IHAF gives DTI-PAB voting rights at the General Assembly and committee meetings that could be highly beneficial to Philippine Halal industry. This membership is also seen to further Halal trade between the Philippines and other IHAF member countries. The IHAF is an independent, non-government network of accreditation entities mandated to enforce Halal standards in their respective countries and regions. Empowered by its mandate to protect the growing number of Halal consumers and to facilitate international trade, IHAF establishes a solid ground for the global industry of Halal food and non-food products. In photo is DTI Undersecretary for Trade and Investments Promotion Group Nora K. Terrado (left) with International Halal Accreditation Forum Secretary General Mohamed S. Badri (right) during a courtesy call held at the DTI International Building, Makati City on 7 December 2017.
by admin | Dec 5, 2017 | Headlines, Photo Story
DTI, JICA COLLABORATE ON INDUSTRIAL COMPETITIVENESS PROJECTS. Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Ramon Lopez (left) and Japan International Cooperation Agency – Philippines (JICA) Chief Representative Mr. Susumo Ito (right) recently (29 November) signed Records of Discussions for the Enhancement of Industrial Competitiveness through Industrial Human Resource Development (IHRD) and Supply & Value Chains Development (SVCD). The discussion records include agreements in the implementation of projects in industrial development planning and human capacity-building in the Philippines. These projects will push for the growth and development of the manufacturing sector, complimenting the global value chain development of the Philippine automotive industry via skill trainings and through the development of the Industrial Masterplan for Central Luzon and CALABARZON. Mr. Ito said the signing of the document is timely, given the recent holding of the Philippine Manufacturing Summit. He likewise cited the benefits of these projects, with a boost of potential income growth of Filipinos by 13 to 15 percent per capita.
by admin | Nov 29, 2017 | Malakanyang Updates, Photo Story
PRRD RALLIES LOCAL CONTRACTORS TO ‘BUILD BUILD BUILD’. President Rodrigo Duterte offered strong support to the Philippine construction industry during his keynote speech at the 2nd Philippine Construction Congress (28, November) in Pasay. The President urged local contractors to join the government in building massive infrastructure projects under the ‘Build Build Build’ program, creating more opportunities leading to ‘Jobs, Jobs, Jobs’ through Trabaho at Negosyo, or jobs and business opportunities for Filipinos. Meanwhile, Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Ramon Lopez reported to the President the strong commitment of the construction industry to help the government in its efforts for the reconstruction of the Marawi City. Sec. Lopez also mentioned the support of the Philippine Contractors Association (PCA) for the Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption (VACC) by donating Php 1 million to the anti-crime organization. The 2nd Philippine Construction Congress is headed by the Construction Industry Authority of the Philippines (CIAP), an attached agency of DTI that facilitates and regulates the growth and development of the industry in line with the national goals. Also present at the event was DOLE Sec Silvestre Bello. In the picture are: DOH Secretary Francisco Duque III (rightmost), DTI Undersecretaries Ruth Castelo (3rd from R), Nora Terrado (2nd from R), Rowel Barba (5th from R), and Assistant Secretaries Abdul Gani Macatoman (3rd from R), Ameenah Fajardo (3rd from L) and Taguig City Mayor Lani Cayetano (leftmost).
by admin | Nov 27, 2017 | Headlines, Photo Story
Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Ramon Lopez together with DoubleDragon (DD) CEO Edgar “Injap” Sia (4th from R) and President Ferdinand Sia (6th from R) led (25 November 2017) the inaugural launch of 22 Go Lokal! Stores nationwide, with the ceremonial launch conducted in CityMall Imus, Cavite. CityMall is the fifth mall partner of Go Lokal! that will feature world-class products of Filipino micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in high foot traffic areas free of charge. Sec. Lopez said that with DTI’s collaboration with the private sector, MSMEs will have access to bigger value chains, which would give them the opportunity to explore bigger markets for their products. DD CEO Injap Sia, on the other hand, announced his plan to provide a space for Go Lokal! stores in over 100 CityMalls that are set to open nationwide. Go Lokal! is a design-concept store initiated by DTI showcasing innovative, high-quality Philippine products crafted, designed, and produced by the country’s MSMEs. Also at the inauguration were DTI Assistant Secretary Rosvi Gaetos (6th from L), DoubleDragon CityMalls Special Projects Head Frederico Gutierrez (2nd from R), Imus, Cavite Vice Mayor Arnel Catimbuhan (3rd from R), and other DTI officials
by admin | Nov 27, 2017 | Headlines, Photo Story
In photo: Los Angeles Consul General Adelio Angelito S. Cruz (2nd row; 9th from left), Philippine Franchise Association (PFA) Vice Chairman Bing Sibal-Limjoco (1st row; 5th from left), PFA Executive Director Chit Estrada (2nd row; leftmost), Philippine Trade and Investment Center (PTIC)-Los Angeles Trade Commissioner Celynne Layug (1st row; 3rd from left), and members of the Filipino community in Los Angeles.
The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), through the Philippine Trade and Investment Center (PTIC) – Los Angeles, conducted a Franchising Seminar on 16 November 2017 with the Philippine Franchise Association (PFA) and the Philippine Consulate General – Los Angeles. The event was attended by 40 participants composed of Fil-Am community, businessmen, and media.
Ms. Bing Sibal-Limjoco, Vice-Chairman of PFA and CEO of Francorp Philippines gave an overview of Philippine franchising and discussed the trends, opportunities, and advantages of franchising.
Franchising is one of the platforms for fostering the culture of entrepreneurship in the Philippines and one of the ways to support MSME policy. The PFA has seen the benefits of offering franchising as a strategy to grow one’s business and for those interested in doing business through franchising. It is notable that Philippine brands have likewise established their operations in foreign markets such as the US. Apart from prominent Philippine franchise brands, franchise startups such as Belgian Waffle have started to penetrate the US market with its first franchise store opening in San Diego, California, USA.
by admin | Nov 20, 2017 | Photo Story
PH welcomes leading Japanese confectionery manufacturers. The Philippines, through the Department of Trade and Industry’s Foreign Trade Service Corps (DTI-FTSC), welcomed 19 confectionary manufacturers from Kansai Kashi Kogyo Cooperative Association, led by its President Mr. Fujisawa Hajime, President of Nobel Confectionery Co., Ltd. (1st row; 5th from left), through a briefing held last 16 November at Dusit Thani Manila in Makati City. In her welcome remarks, DTI Industry Development and Trade Policy Group Assistant Secretary Rafaelita M. Aldaba (1st row, 4th from left) introduced DTI’s Inclusive Innovation Industrial Strategy or i3S, which aims to develop globally competitive and innovative industries to sustain the country’s high growth trajectory with innovation at its core. Agribusiness and processed food are among the 12 priority industries identified under the i3S. Mr. Nobuyuki Nakajima, Deputy Executive Director of Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) Manila (1st row, 3rd from left), and Mr. Kawamura Tomotaka, Project Manager of Sojitz Philippines Corporation (1st row, 6th from left), also shared their valuable experience in doing business in the Philippines from a Japanese perspective. The event was concluded by a business networking session attended by members of the Philippine Confectionery, Biscuit and Snack Association (PCBSA), led by its President, Mr. Kissinger Sy (1st row, 1st from left). The Philippine confectionary industry grew by 2.6% in 2016, with revenues amounting to USD 670.10 million
