MANILA, June 23 (PNA) — Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has cited sectors to promote in European Union (EU)-member states in order to strengthen Philippine products in EU.
In an assessment paper obtained from the department, DTI listed food products particularly processed fruits, processed marine products, and organic food to push in the EU market as recommended by Philippine Trade and Investment Center (PTIC) — DTI’s representative in Philippine embassies abroad.
Aside from food products, there are also opportunities in exporting auto parts, garments, gift ware, home furnishings, and business process outsourcing (BPO) services.
In Germany, Filipino exporters may explore in areas of bio-coconut products because of the growing demand in this sector; dried fruits such as coconut, mango, and banana which are use as ingredients for pastry products; processed tuna which are generally consumed as comfort food and pizza manufacturing business; tropical fruit juices; anti-lock brake systems requiring assembly of electronic components; garments and footwear; design-driven products like furniture, hardware, holiday items and gifts; fashion and costume jewelry; aerospace manufacturing particularly fuselage, wing system, composite structures, airplane interior, and engineering services; BPO; nursing and caregiving; and tourism, retirement, and healthcare services.
In Netherlands, there are export potentials in coconut products; fishery products as Netherlands is the sixth largest importer of seafood products in EU; home décor and accessories like vases made from shell and wood, candleholders, birdhouses, and other garden decorations; and sports and camping products specifically bicycle gear and bags, among others.
Filipino exporters can tap France in sectors of dried or processed tropical fruits; homestyle products; fashion accessories; and automotive parts.
Fishery products are recommended to be promoted in Belgium as it holds the annual European Seafoods Fair, the biggest seafoods fair in Europe; organic food products; auto parts particularly anti-lock brake system, safety seatbelts, gearboxes, and suspension systems, among others; furniture, accessories, holiday and gift items; and retirement and health services.
In Italy, products that should be promoted by the Philippines are marine products like octopus, tuna, and milkfish; rice, millet, and tubers; coconut non-food products like coco coir and coco carpet; motor vehicle replacement parts such as ignition wiring harness, belted rubber tires, and other motorcycle parts; design-driven products; and BPO non-voice services including health information management.
In Spain, there are potentials for raw materials for food products like snack production, fresh bananas, and tuna; garments and fashion accessories; auto parts; biofuels; and gift and home décor.
In Sweden, products to be promoted shall be organic food products particularly coco sugar and coco water; tropical snacks like dried coco chips, banana chips, mango, and papaya; frozen vegetables like chicharo, bamboo shoots, bean sprouts, carrots, and baby corn; noodles, canned tuna, canned pineapple, canned tropical fruit cocktail, and canned coco milk; auto parts; industrial workwear; and design-driven products.
In 2013, most of the exports of the Philippines to the EU market are composed of electronic micro-assemblies, static converters, storage units, digital monolithic integrated circuits, coconut oil and crude oil.
The country, on the other hand, mostly imports airplanes and other aircraft from EU. (PNA)