29 April 2019
Published also in Business Mirror
EIGHT companies under the Regional Interactive Platform for Philippine Exporters (RIPPLES) Plus Program are exhibiting their products at the 69th Manila FAME from April 25 to 27, 2019, at the World Trade Center (WTC) Metro Manila in Pasay City. The Ripples Plus Pavilion measures 72 square meters of curated space with defined company display areas.
The program is jointly implemented by the Department of Trade and Industry-Export Marketing Bureau (DTI-EMB) with the DTI-Regional Operations Group (ROG) together with other Trade Promotions Group (TPG) Agencies/Bureaus composed of the Bureau of Domestic Trade Promotion (BDTP), Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions (CITEM), Design Center of the Philippines (DCP) and the Philippine Trade Training Center (PTTC).
It intends to expand the supply base of internationally competitive Philippine export products and services and to provide intensified, purposive and practical assistance geared toward the internationalization of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), and expand the global export market opportunities for large corporations.
The Ripples Plus Program aims to support SMEs and has worked on increasing the number of internationally competitive local products and services exporters with EMB at the helm. There are two modes of interventions to ensure the companies are competent and export-ready under the Philippine Export Development Plan (PEDP). These are: Mode 1) Global Export Advance Resource (One-on-One Consultations, Focus Group Discussions, Technical Working Group, E-commerce, Client Servicing, Mutual Recognition Agreements, Trade Facilitation, Policy Advocacy and Product Development); and Mode 2) Strategic Marketing and Promotions (Inbound and Outbound Business Matching Missions, Branding and Mainstreaming).
Joining this April Edition are: Beyond Borders, C & C (Chlio & Co.), Gifts and Graces Fair Trade Foundation Inc., Hubog Craft Philippines Co. Ltd., Kayvaluganan Handicraft Makers Association, Pumiceunlimited Ventures, RC Woodworks, and Silya Home Furnishings. The exhibitors are based in Metro Manila, Regions 2, 3 and 4A. These are manufacturers of housewares and furnishings.
Manila FAME is the country’s premier design and lifestyle event organized by the DTI through the CITEM. It is the second-longest running trade show in Asia-Pacific and is the only trade event in the country approved by Union des Foires Internationales (UFI), or the Global Association of the Exhibition Industry, a Paris-based association of trade fair organizers.
It promotes the Philippines as a reliable sourcing destination for high-quality and design-oriented home, fashion, holiday, architectural and interior products. It supports local small- and medium-scale enterprises and artisan communities by working with local designers to create new product collections and providing a professionally managed platform to present export products to the global market.
As part of the show, CITEM also conducted product-development activities through its “Design for Export Program” (DEP) for all Ripples Plus exhibitors. EMB and CITEM aim to put the exhibitors-enrollee’s experience at the heart of new innovations through DEP of CITEM, purposely for exhibitors to adjust to new market trends and requirements and expand market access.
CITEM’s efforts to increase the global competitiveness of the country’s gifts, décor and houseware sector are in line with the government’s latest target—to grow the sector by 20 percent in the next five years. The Board of Investments identified more than 2,400 handicraft enterprises in the Philippines. The majority of those are MSMEs located in the NCR, Cordillera Region, Region 5 and Region 12.
“We are going to highlight the best of Manila FAME products featured over the years through the Design Commune special setting. As part of our product-development program, these products will be reimagined to reflect contemporary design concepts,” said Pauline Suaco-Juan, executive director of the CITEM.