Exporters told: Focus on Asia to survive crisis

Cebu  exporters were  encouraged to be resilient and to explore other business  options to ride out the global economic crisis.

Even if   Cebu’s export industry is  affected by the  economic crisis, it can still  cope by exploring other markets especially  in Asia.

“ They would know where to go and how to go about it. That’s their asset,” said Barbara Doctor, export marketing consultant of PhilExport Cebu.

Doctor said that Cebu has  established export sectors in  electronics, fashion, furniture and houseware and post-processed fruits like dried mangoes.

“Cebu has always exceeded the normal export target and local industries are doing well as a whole,” she said.

She emphasized that Cebu would continue to lead the country’s export industry, because it has the resources to strive.

“ Cebu has the capability to increase  exports, but I’m not sure if the rest of the country can do it,” said

Doctor, who spoke  in the Free Trade Area (FTA) information session last week, said that Cebu would able to “perform well” in achieving an  $89 billion increase in  exports by 2013 and $120 billion by 2016.

The target is set by the Philippine Export Development Plan (PEDP) based on the country’s Millennium Development Goal program.

The session was organized by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in Cebu.

Meanwhile, DTI Cebu Provincial Director Nelia Navarro said that Cebu was  strategically located in terms of trade and resources and handles  80 percent of the shipping industry in the country.

“Cebuanos are entrepreneurial. We may not have much raw resources but we thrive in trade. I’m very positive that we can make or achieve the PEDP,” she said.

Navarro cited Cebu’s strong points.

It is one of the manufacturers of best designed furniture, fashion accessories and post processed products.

It is  known globally with identified and active export zones and is a top destination for Business Process Outsourcing (BPO).

Last 2010, the export industry contributed to  34.10 percent of the country’s Gross Domestic Product.

Navarro also advised local exporters to deal with  FTA members in Asia to lessen the impact of the economic crisis affecting the US and Europe.

With FTA members, a zero to five percent payment in tariff would be availed by the member countries.

Navarro said Japan and China were  active  markets for consumer goods in Asia with their large populations./Reporter Candeze R. Mongaya