CEBU CITY (PNA) - The Export Development Council (EDC) has consulted Cebuano exporters on the drafting of the three-year Philippines Export Development Plan (PEDP) aimed at achieving a 10 percent export growth year-on-year.
The EDC, in coordination with the Bureau of Export Trade Promotions (BETP), is now preparing the PEDP 2011-2013, which will chart the strategies to increase the export revenue of the country, employment generation, and other economic activities as embodied in the Export Development Act. Both agencies are under the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).
BETP Director and EDC Executive Director Senen Pelada said the regional consultation last Wednesday was meant to gather feedback from exporters on the development of the three-year trade strategy roadmap for the export industry.
He said the planning will empower exporters as they can outline their opportunities, strategies and concerns.
The consultation on PEDP with the various exporters was held at the Cebu Grand Hotel Cebu was the council's last stop of the regional consultation. The three-year trade strategy will be presented to Malacañang in October.
DTI special consultant Serafin Julaino said the export roadmap will also be one of the bases for the continued release of an export support fund from the government that will help finance efforts to promote Philippine products.
"But we will still contextualize this within the government's fiscal policies," he said, adding that the government is not just considering the revenues exporters will be generating but also the promotion of employment in the country.
Juliano said consultations with Cebu exporters will also help them revalidate forecasts of their respective industries.
"This will also allow us to determine whether the targets set are attainable," Juliano said.
EDC targets more than 10 percent export growth year-on-year for the next three years, following the upbeat performance of the country's merchandise exports. Exports in the first half of the year posted an increase of 137.7 percent to 3.71 billion dollars. This year's export growth drivers are electronics and service sectors and some agricultural products, according to the National statistics Office (NSO).
