27 March 2020
Published also in Business Mirror
In an effort to further encourage digital transformation among Philippine exporters, the Department of Trade and Industry-Export Marketing Bureau (DTI-EMB) organized a Philippine Export Competitiveness Program (PECP) info session focused on 2020’s International Trade Trends held on February 27, 2020, at the DTI International Building, Makati City.
To highlight the digital technology’s important role in transforming international trade, the latest PECP info session featured topics on: Quick Response (QR) Code 101: What You Need To Know; Making your Payment Scheme Easier Through QR Code Technology; Adopting a National QR Code Standard for Payments in the Philippines; High-Tech Philippine Startups Offering Transformative Technologies; and Global Trade Helpdesk.
DTI-Trade Promotions Group (TPG) Undersecretary Abdulgani M. Macatoman noted that it is essential to focus on the digital trade trends in the Philippines and in the global arena as a whole to encourage exporters to transform digitally.
“We believe that our Philippine entrepreneurs can exceed more challenges, accomplish better business results, and eventually have lower operational costs by embracing new technologies offered by these business enablers,” Macatoman said.
The PECP is a yearlong seminar series for exporters which is aimed at increasing the competitiveness and productivity of Filipino exporters. The first two PECP info sessions for this year were anchored on the theme of the 2019 National Export Congress, which focused on “Driving Exports through Digital Transformation.”
For the month of February 2020, the PECP conducted an interactive knowledge sharing on local and international trade trends in 2020. The morning session highlighted the trending digital payment technologies in the Philippines, while the afternoon session focused on high-tech Philippine start-ups and a presentation cum pilot testing of the “Global Trade Helpdesk” of the International Trade Centre (ITC).
Vincent Norman Goyena, agent network head of the Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. (RCBC) made a thorough discussion on “Quick Response [QR] Code Technology: What You Need to Know.” He provided vital information such as the history of this innovative technology, variations/types of QR Codes that could be generated, applications/uses across various industries, and its important role in transforming domestic and global trade.
Jarette Aotriz, senior lead for Government Programs of PayMaya followed suit with her extensive presentation on “Making Your Payment Scheme Easier Through QR Code Technology.” She discussed PayMaya’s innovative digital payment schemes such as its digital platform which is anchored on the QR Code Technology. She enlightened the PECP participants on this trending payment technology by providing them with the technical know-how on using this type of digital payment for their business transactions.
Marie Kristine Pajarillo, Bank Officer V of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) discussed the topic “Adopting a National QR Code Standard for Payments in the Philippines.” She provided a comprehensive briefing on this strategic initiative, which aims to transform the country’s QR-driven digital payment services into interoperable payment solutions. Her discussion focused on the rationale for BSP’s adoption of this valuable policy in terms of improving the QR-enabled payment services offerings of the country’s Payment Service Providers (PSPs).
Katrina Bausa Chan, director of the QBO Innovation Hub, provided a presentation on the “High-Tech Philippine Startups Offering Transformative Technologies.” Chan started her briefing with a discussion on the role of the QBO Innovation Hub in helping promote start-up technopreneurship in the country. She then proceeded with an extensive discussion on Philippine start-up companies which are now offering innovative technologies that are transforming digital trade in the local and international market.
Anna Jankowska-Eriksson, market analyst, trade and market intelligence of the International Trade Centre conducted a livestreaming presentation on “Global Trade Helpdesk.” She, likewise, spearheaded the platform testing of the ITC portal www.globaltradehelpdesk.org. The briefing/testing was done through Skype in coordination with PTIC-Geneva. Global Trade Helpdesk is a multi-agency initiative led by the ITC, Unctad, and WTO that aims to integrate global trade information and market access conditions for trade officials and entrepreneurs.