30 industries to formulate dev't roadmaps

MANILA, Philippines - Some 30 industries have committed to formulate development roadmaps during the consultations conducted by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) for the 2012 Strategic Industry Development Program.

These industries are: Air logistics for cargo, copper and copper products, fine jewelry, autoparts, rubber and rubber products, tool and die, metal casting, coconut and coconut products, hogs, poultry, coffee, medical travel/medical tourism (cancer treatment), retirement industry, flat glass, plastics, paints & coatings, printing ink, garments and textiles, chemicals, motorcycle & motorcyle parts,  iron and steel, automotive, petrochemicals, handicrafts, furniture, BPO/KPO, hotel, mass housing, engineered bamboo and biodiesel.

The sectoral consultations are meant to identify ways for industries to meet their short-term and long-term goals and develop the capacity of their workforce especially now when there is renewed optimism in the country’s trade and investment performance and competitiveness in the global market.

The creation of the development roadmaps is intended to identify opportunities for increasing the production capacity and developing a skilled workforce rather than increasing the tax incentives given to businesses.  

For instance, the industry roadmaps given to the board by the Department of Agriculture for agribusinesses focus on increasing the capacity of businesses for commercial production.

The finished roadmaps will also used in the crafting of the government’s Investment Priorities Plan (IPP) for 2013.

Trade Undersecretary and BOI managing head Adrian Cristobal Jr. on Friday said the DTI is forming a partnership with the Department of Science and Technology for the establishment of additional testing laboratories for electronic products to help the electronics and the automotive sector to cut down the testing cost for their products.

“This is one of the non-fiscal incentives that we can provide to investors. This can help make our products more competitive,” said Cristobal.

The government subsidizes several testing laboratories such as those maintained by the DTI in Bicutan and those maintained by the DOST but these are lacking in capacity.

Many electronics and automotive firms outsource the testing of their merchandise to other countries such as Singapore.

No target date had been set for the establishment of the testing facilities.