The Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions (CITEM), the export trade promotions agency of the Department of Trade and Industry, has generated 8.18 million in exports earnings last year from its international fairs.
For its domestic trade fairs, CITEM was able to generate P272.29 million in 2005.
DTI Assistant Secretary Fe Agoncillo-Reyes, who is also CITEM executive director, said the earnings represent the sale of the 2,037 small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and private firms that joined in its 38 trade promotion activities here and abroad.
Reyes said the huge sales could be attributed to the success of CITEM’s flagship programs.
CITEM’s flagship programs International Food Exhibition Philippines (IFEX), National Trade Fair, e-Services Philippines, Manila FAME International, BIO-Search, Industry Link and IFEX posted 23 percent increase in export sales with 53 percent increase in foreign buyer attendance from 2004, majority of which came from China, USA, Italy, Singapore, and Hong Kong.
CITEM also boasts of exceptional earnings from the National Trade Fair (NTF) which was held earlier this year at SM Megamall’s Megatrade Halls.
Retail sales increased by 28 percent to P21.62 million from P16.9 percent in 2004 while negotiated orders rose by 248 percent to P142.13 million from P40.9 million in 2004.
The fair’s top sellers include furniture and furnishings, gifts, home décor, and houseware, fashion accessories, and processed food, Reyes said.
Trade and Industry Secretary Peter B. Favila said targets of the country’s export development program are SMEs, firms carefully selected and developed to enable them to market their goods overseas.
"By helping SMEs graduate into exporting firms we strengthen the country’s ability earn more dollars through the manufacture of homegrown goods," she said.
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