DTI draws up plans to boost PH dev’t

The Department of Trade and Industry is crafting strategic industry road maps, in collaboration with the private sector, to strengthen the country’s competitiveness and to grow its presence in the global market.

These roadmaps, according to Trade Secretary Gregory L. Domingo, will help the DTI set its priorities and allow the agency to contribute in the country’s development goals.

The DTI aims to become a growth catalyst in line with the Aquino administration’s vision, he added.

Domingo said in a statement that the DTI has already begun gathering experts and stakeholders in a series of forums and dialogues. The inputs from these sessions will be used for the DTI’s overall trade and industry programs.

“We draw from the expertise and experience of the private sector in developing industry development plans. Roadmaps help industries plan their growth, competitiveness and sustainability, and we aim to build a consensus in generating ideas and define the direction for possible road-map templates,” Trade Undersecretary Adrian S. Cristobal Jr. said.

“The government acts as a catalyst and enabler as we jointly develop an industry strategy, craft the road maps, and execute these with deliberate speed.”

The DTI, through the Board of Investments and Center for Industrial Competitiveness, recently held the first of a series of informal dialogues through the Trade and Industry Development Talks (TID Talks).

TID Talks featured economists and industry experts who helped the department validate policy directions and identify strategic issues critical in developing road maps.

The next in the series of dialogues will be held this week. During the Industry Development Forum, representatives from about 50 industry organizations have been invited to present their papers or studies on their respective industries.

“We have been meeting with business leaders from the Federation of Philippine Industries, Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and Joint Foreign Chambers to identify areas of collaboration. Industry advocates have expressed their support to this initiative, as well,” Cristobal added.

According to the DTI, the electronics and the IT/BPO [business process outsourcing] industries have crafted their own road maps to chart the industry’s direction. The DTI has also reiterated its support to other industries that have yet to develop their own road maps.