SMEs in Bataan to penetrate European Union market

BALANGA CITY, Bataan – Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in Bataan, said they are preparing to penetrate the global market like the European Union after attending a seminar conducted in Abucay this morning by the Export Marketing Bureau of the Department of Trade.

“Malaking bagay ang seminar, nabuksan ang isipan namin on how to compete globally, on what to do to penetrate the foreign market,” said Amanda Battad, president of the Bataan Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Inc. (BACCII). BACCII counts to 100 active members.

“We will begin in improving our products more to prove that we can compete even in the international market like the European Union,” said Battad whose company produces the best smoked and dried fish and sauted bagoong, among some other processed marine products.

Nelin Cabahug, DTI provincial director, said that Bataan produces good coffee and cashew that could pass the export requirements of the EU. “Kailangan lang tutukan, palakihin ang volume ng production,” she said.

Leah Alejandro, chief of DTI Emerging Products Division, Export Marketing Bureau, said the Philippines is exporting 2,770 products, topped by tuna, to the EU. Among the exports are food products, handicrafts, fishery products, footwear, coconut oil, coffee, processed food, garments and semi-conductors. She said that the value of our exports is US$7 billion while our imports at $8B. “The European Union wants something unique or something exotic, products not found there like woven garments made for example of abacca and pina,” Alejandro said.

The top 5 importer of Philippine products are Germany, Netherlands, France, Spain and Italy.Alejandro discussed “Doing Business with the European Union using Generalized Scheme of Preferences. Alegria Donado, Senior TIDS of Export Marketing Bureau, talked on “Doing Business in Free Trade Areas with focus on ASEAN Economic Community.