27 August 2020
By Ma. Divine Grace T. Derez | Market Innovation Division (MID) | DTI-Export Marketing Bureau
The total trade of the Philippines and India is growing but its full potential has not been fully realized yet. In 2019, India was the Philippines’ 17th export market valued at US$545.45 million contributing only 0.77% share to the total Philippine exports. In comparison, Philippine imports from India amounted to US$1.83 billion or 1.64% of total imports. As such, the Philippines has been active in conducting and participating in various trade promotion activities to explore and maximize the trade opportunities between the two countries.
One of the trade promotion activities lined-up is a webinar on “Exploring Trade and Investment Opportunities with India for Processed Food” scheduled in September 2020. The webinar is being jointly organized by the Department of Trade and Industry-Export Marketing Bureau (DTI-EMB) and the Philippine Trade and Investment Center (PTIC) New Delhi with Invest India. In 2019, total Philippine food exports to India amounted to US$3.85 million while total PH food imports from India amounted to US$160.36 million.
“We (Philippines) have the supply chain network and human resources to support international companies repurposing and repositioning their supply chains; plus we have the empowering government policies that will support business as well as sizable domestic market,” BOI Managing Director and DTI Undersecretary Ceferino Rodolfo said during the 1st INDO ASEAN Oceanic Summit and Expo.
Moreover, DTI-EMB Director Senen Perlada also encouraged Indian pharmaceutical companies to make the Philippines their manufacturing hub, as the country is an ideal gateway to Southeast Asia. “Our country will be a good, if not the best, hub to manufacture. We have a lot of natural ingredients that have found their way to pharmaceuticals like moringa/malunggay, yellow ginger, virgin coconut oil, and others,” Director Perlada said during the recently concluded “Exploring Business Opportunities between India and the Philippines” webinar.
In 2019, total Philippine exports of pharmaceuticals to India amounted to US$1.38 million while total Philippine imports of pharmaceuticals from India amounted to US$235.7 million.
To know more about PH Exports to India and other exports’ inquiries, you may contact the Market Innovation Division through mid@dti.gov.ph.