Ship, solar panels eyed as PHL major export products

Ships and solar panels are presenting growth opportunities for the Philippine export sector, the Department of Trade and Industry said in a statement Friday. Trade Secretary Gregory Domingo said that ships and solar panels are among the country's export products that pose "further growth potential," as electronics, motor parts, minerals, coconut, food products, and business process outsourcing services continue to grow. "Developments in existing and new export businesses give us a broader view on how we can strengthen our international competitiveness," Domingo said, pointing out that it is essential to look into products or services that will become an important source of the country's future export earnings. Domingo said that export growth trends "depict dynamic shifts in the global supply chain and challenge us to craft our strategies" to the fullest. The Trade Department will put in place the Philippine Export Development Plan 2011-2013 to "level-up and double-up" domestic exports in the near term. "The goal is to level-up Philippine exports by building on the current business and integrating efforts in tourism, investments, and information technology services [and] double-up exports in the next three years by creating rapid-growth sectors in agri-business, resource-based products, technology, and knowledge management services," Domingo said. — JE/JV, GMANews.TV