Exporters urged anew to adopt e-commerce

CEBU, Philippines - Exporters are urged to fully maximize the online highway to sustain their competitive edge against the softening of the traditional market.

Philexport president Sergio Ortiz-Luis Jr. in a statement reminded exporters to take a serious look on e-commerce portal, especially among the Micro-Small and Medium Entrepreneurs (MSMEs).

Ortiz-Luis believe that export sector in the Philippines is bound to experience rebound, particularly the micro and small players if they will be able to adjust of bend with the changing times.

MSMEs should be able to adapt to and adopt the changes, Ortiz-Luis said adding that in this context, government and private sector need to work together for capacity building and setting up of the necessary soft and hard infrastructure.

The country's export leader made this statement following the government announcement that it has releasing the five-year industry roadmap that will enable e- commerce to contribute 25 percent to the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) by 2020 and boost trade of MSMEs.

The Philippine E-Commerce Roadmap (PECR) targets 100,000 MSMEs and 40 to 50 percent of internet users doing e-commerce in the next five years, as it addresses a number of issues in the e-commerce ecosystem that requires collective effort of the various stakeholders.

The PECR presented recommendations in six key areas: infrastructure, investment, innovation, intellectual capital, information flow and integration.

Likewise, in his recent visit to Cebu DOST secretary Mario G. Montejo, called MSMEs to boost their companies' online presence, as it is the gateway to fight the tight competition especially with the onset of ASEAN economic community.

According to Montejo, one of DOST's goals is to make the Philippines' as lead player in technology advancement and usage, and that his agency is now starting off works to assist those entrepreneurs who may want to leverage on the internet and technology.

"We assist SMEs including the micro businesses, to take advantage of technology," said Montejo adding that DOST will provide training and consultancy services for the mainstream business players, through the the agency's program for countryside development.

Meanwhile, market intelligence specialist Benedicto Villanueva suggested that building an extensive and visually "appetizing" webpage is a number one requirement for those who are using online as their window to the world's market.

Villanueva, said that mere presence online is not enough, but visual presentation, marketing promotions, and innovative web stimulations should be done including online interaction.  (FREEMAN)