DTI’s export promotion arm bares overseas projects to boost SMEs

The Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions (CITEM), the export promotion arm of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), is preparing to explore more market opportunities abroad for the country’s small and medium enterprises (SMEs).

For 2007, the agency is targeting 23 trade fairs and missions in markets like United States, Europe, Japan, China, and the Middle East. “We want to encourage more business activities for our SMEs and pave the way for these businesses to try out new markets abroad,” according to Trade Assistant Secretary Fe Agoncillo-Reyes, also executive director of CITEM.

For the IT and IT-enabled services, CITEM’s trade promotion program will cover sending delegations to the following fairs Software Development Expo & Conference (Japan), CommunicAsia (Singapore), American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) Convention & Exhibition (US), and Asian Games Developers Summit (Singapore). The agency is also considering sending a business mission to the United States (New York, Washington, and Florida), and the United Kingdom.

For the design-driven sector such as fine jewelry, furniture and houseware, the overseas projects include participation to Hong Kong International Jewellery Show, Salone Internationale del Mobile (Italy), Interior Lifestyle Exhibition (Japan), Hong Kong Fashion Week, Houseware and Gift Fair South America (Brazil), Tokyo International Gift Show (Japan), Maison et Objet (France), and Index Dubai.

For food and health and wellness, trade promotion includes the following fair participation in FMI Chicago, Asean Health and Wellness Exhibition and Asean Food and Beverage Exhibition to be held in Japan, and Anuga (Germany). A food mission to Gulf states is also scheduled, which will include Oman, Kuwait, UAE, and Qatar.

CITEM will also spearhead the country’s participation to the following events Solo Exhibition in Russia for processed food, giftware and home furnishing; China Education Expo for education services, China-ASEAN Expo for consumer goods, and Big 5 Dubai for construction services and materials.

“We want to work closely with all sectors and send business delegations for market research and business opportunities,” added Agoncillo-Reyes. She also added that the trade fair participation abroad and trade missions are meant to showcase the capabilities of the Philippines across all sectors and network with businesses abroad.

In 2005, CITEM generated US$278.18 million in export sales and PhP 272.29 million in domestic returns. The agency also assisted about 2,037 SMEs and private corporations for the same period.

CITEM said that in 2007, the agency hopes to work with other government institutions and partners in a bid to synergize trade and tourism country promotion.
Locally, CITEM will continue to organize marketing activities through international shows such as e-Services Philippines (IT/BPO), Manila F.A.M.E. International (design-driven products), International Food Exhibition Philippines/BIO-Search (food/marine products/organic products), and International Arts and Crafts Expo (creative industries).