EXPORTERS are being urged to develop products unique to the Philippines that will open up new Western markets, the Philippine Exporters Confederation, Inc. (Philexport) said.
In a statement over the weekend, Philexport said that Western countries are also looking at the Philippines as a possible gateway to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.
Philexport Vice-President and Trustee Ferdinand A. Ferrer, Philexport said that Western businesses particularly in North America, Europe, and South America are looking for partners in the Philippines.
“In 2025, what we will do with our exporters is really to align and to match business opportunities with these foreign initiatives and partners that we have,” according to Mr. Ferrer, who is also an executive vice-president of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
“Likewise, they are looking for unique Philippine products to be able to open up new markets within their countries,” he added.
He cited as an example the traditional Batangas folding knife, known as the balisong.
Philexport and other associations are also working on servicing the demand for products and services in each province in Canada, he said.
“Canada (is) willing to train us suppliers for sustainability and compliance. Canada has very strict compliance and sustainability rules. They cannot be made by minors, and should be green type products,” he said.
“Of course we are not yet at that level but there is a program in Canada that will help suppliers reach the level of sustainability compliant with Canada’s rules,” he added.
He said the European Union is also looking for suppliers in Asia and is particularly interested in the Philippines.
“A lot of Europeans want to have manufacturing facilities in the Philippines amid President-elect Donald Trump’s proposed tariffs on all products imported from Canada and Mexico,” he said.
“So (Europeans) can still send products to the US,” he added. — Justine Irish D. Tabile