Export council OKs P4.75M in assistance for Cebu show

THE Export Development Council (EDC) has approved P4.75 million in financial assistance to the Cebu International Furniture and Furnishings Exhibition (CebuNext) 2010.

The fund is meant to encourage local furniture companies to participate in the CebuNext 2010, which will run from March 5 to 8 at the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino.

Called the Export Support Fund, the fund is part of the assistance promised by the National Government to help the Philippine export industry cope with the effects of the global financial crisis. The EDC support covers part of the participation fees, special settings and international and national promotions efforts of CebuNext.

The Cebu Furniture Industries Foundation Inc. (CFIF), organizer of the CebuNext (formerly Cebu X), said 49 furniture and furnishings manufacturers are joining the show.

Although participation to the show has been declining due to challenging financial conditions, the number of buyers who pre-registered online on www.CebuNext.com increased by about 20 percent over last year’s number.

CFIF said this year’s show will be more exciting than previous ones as it focuses on sustainable raw materials and eco-friendly designs and products.

This focus can be observed at a special settings booth that will showcase the innovative ideas of local furniture designers and manufacturers using wastes, as well as natural and eco-friendly materials.

Also at CebuNext 2010 is the Materials Library special setting—a replica of the actual facility housed at the CFIF building in Jagobiao, Mandaue City—which will feature swatches of natural and sustainable raw materials that can be supplied by local communities.

The Materials Library—a collaboration of CFIF, the European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines and the Department of Science and Technology—supports the livelihood of local communities that can be sources of raw materials or finished products for the furniture, fashion accessories, and gifts and houseware industries.

During the CebuNext, an independent panel of judges will pick the best furniture and furnishing designs worthy of the Mugna award. The award is given to the most innovative and unique designs of exhibitors.

The award categories include furniture, home accessory, material innovation, outdoor furniture and booth design.

A Mugna award will also be given to the most innovative and unique design of furniture or furnishing by a student participating in the CFIF’s Student Internship Program, in which design students of local universities undergo mentoring by top-caliber designers of CFIF member-companies.

The opening of the international furniture show on March 5 will be led by high-ranking national government and local government officials, as well as foreign dignitaries.

One of the show’s honored guests is John McGuire, an icon in the US furniture industry, who was instrumental in the growth of the export furniture sector in Cebu.

McGuire was the first American to bring Cebu-made furniture to the United States.

CebuNext 2010 will be opened for public viewing on March 7 and 8. Exhibition hours will be from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.(PR)