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Monday, January 16, 2006
CFIF, UP launch course on industrial product design to help local industry
The Cebu Furniture Industries Foundation Inc. (CFIF) urges young people, especially those interested in arts and design, to enroll in the industrial design course being offered by the University of the Philippines Cebu College (UPCC).
CFIF president Michael Basubas said the industrial design course, a collaboration of the CFIF and UPCC under its product development and design program, was launched last year.
It aims to ensure a steady supply of industrial designers in Cebu.
Compete
Furniture manufacturers in Cebu — which has been described as the “Milan of Asia” — have been competing in the global furniture market, banking on the unique designs of their products.
Aside from CFIF’s partnership with UPCC, the foundation also launched last year the Project i.Build and the CFIF information Centre.
Through these projects, the CFIF expects to improve the efficiency and competitiveness of the local furniture industry by giving companies relevant, accurate and timely information that will help them make sound business decisions.
With CFIF’s new programs this year, the industry hopes to boost the growth of the province’s furniture industry.
The industry has experienced negative growth in the last five years unlike their counterparts in other Asian countries, Basubas said.
New player
Vietnam, practically a new player in the global furniture market, posted an average growth rate of 42 percent from 2000 to 2003 while China experienced a 29-percent average growth rate from 2000 to 2004.
The furniture making industries in Indonesia and Malaysia have average growth rates of three percent and five percent, respectively, while the Republic of Korea experienced a nine-percent growth rate from 2000 to 2004.
Lack of government support, lack of competent labor, dwindling supply of industrial designers and insufficient capital—a problem that many small players experience—have been identified by industry players as some of the factors that contribute to the decline in Philippine furniture exports.
The top 10 markets of Philippine furniture last year are the United States, Japan, UK, France, Australia, Italy, Spain, Indonesia, United Arab Emirates and the Netherlands. (JBN)
For Bisaya stories from Cebu. Click here. (January 16, 2006 issue)
Write letter to the editor.Click here.
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