Thursday, June 07, 2007 Canada backs local exporters
TO cushion the impact on exporters of the continued appreciation of the peso against the US dollar, the Canadian government is extending a free online registration through the Trade Facilitation Office of Canada (TFOC).
TFOC is a non-profit corporation with an ongoing mandate to provide trade related technical assistance to developing countries and countries in transition.
As a show of support to local exporters, TFOC aims to help market and export Philippine goods to Canada.
The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) said the online service is a web-based mechanism for exporters and potential buyers to engage and possibly create business linkages that will spur trade developments in both countries.
“Interested Philippine exporters registering at www.tfoc.ca can upload basic information of its company profile and products, including uploading of photos of products, price list and factory site, of vital interest to over 1,000 Canadian importers in TFOC’s database,” the DTI statement read.
Sophisticated market
Part of the registration requires local companies to have at least one year exporting experience “for a more realistic trade possibility” as Canada is considered by many as a “sophisticated market.”
Jose Brillantes, Philippine Ambassador to Canada, is strongly encouraging all exporters to capitalize on this export diagnostic tool provided at no extra cost by TFOC that is designed to link local exporters to their prospective buyers in Canada.
Earlier, Jay Yuvallos, president of the Philippine Exporters Confederation (Philexport) Cebu, called on Cebu exporters to venture into new markets especially since the US market, which is considered as its main market, is experiencing an economic slowdown.
Trade deficits and inflation problems in the US has caused a decline in economic activities in the country resulting in a decrease in the value of the dollar which has made Philippine products more expensive abroad, said Sergio Edeza, Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. (RCBC) Financial Markets Group treasurer, in a separate interview.
Last February, the Canadian government, through the Canadian International Development Agency that funded program Pearl 2, and the Netherland’s Center for the Promotion of Imports from Developing Countries (CBI) inked a deal with Philexport Cebu to provide local exporters improved marketability and global competitiveness.
Canada Ambassador to the Philippines Peter Sutherland said the local export industry will need more technical and technology transfer works that will help improve business performance of the small and medium enterprises in Cebu, which comprise the bulk of the local export sector. (MMM)
