PNoy exports plan eyes 9M new jobs, $120-B earnings goal

Raising export earnings to $120 billion by 2016 will create 9.1 million new jobs for Filipinos, according to the Aquino administration’s Philippine Export Development Plan (PEDP). “The PEDP synergizes the export agenda of the government and the private sector and the President has expressed his support to the development plan to move the agenda forward," Trade Secretary Gregory L. Domingo said. The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) explained that much of the exports growth can come from the information technology, business process outsourcing, electronics and agribusiness sectors. Industries producing motor vehicle parts, ships, minerals, garments and textiles, wearables, and home furnishings were also identified as growth engines. “We build on the gains from our key export products and growing demand from emerging markets over the past years. We saw remarkable average export growth of $58 billion in 2008 until 2010 and we expect to sustain this through several core product and market strategies under the PEDP," Adrian S. Cristobal Jr., undersecretary for International Trade said. DTI officials stressed that exporters can achieve the growth targets by adopting product strategies involving moving up the value chain, capturing higher value processes in the global supply chain, and developing product linkages for organic, natural, and certification-enabled products. The DTI said exporters can also maximize benefits of free trade agreements, target high-growth emerging markets, and convince international firms to move their supply chain nodes to the Philippines. — ELR/VS, GMA News