Cebu City – In order for Cebu export products to strengthen their hold in the international market, a chartered government corporation will set up a trade house here to showcase, among others, Cebuano furniture products.

The Philippine International Trading Corp., as mandated by its charter, will establish a product depot featuring products from export companies in the small and medium enterprise (SME) category.

PITC president Jorge Mendoza Judan said the establishment of a trade house will assist small and medium enterprise players particularly those in the export and manufacturing businesses.

“It is fitting to set up a trade house in Cebu because of the huge number of exporters and manufacturers. They will no longer have to go to Manila to showcase their products,” he said.

“With the trade house, manufacturers of furniture, houseware and house decors will be spared freight and warehousing costs for orders going to Russia since PITC will also assist in the logistics,” Judan said.

PITC will also act as the “order-taker” from the Russian market, which is an emerging market for Cebu-based furniture items, fashion accessories and home decorations.

Judan said that under the program, the trade house will also feature professional services, citing architectural firm Palafox & Associates, which has rendered design services for Russians with the help of PITC.

“We are excited to do this in Cebu since the province is very aggressive in the Russian market,” he added.

The PITC was scheduled to meet with the Department of Trade and Industry in Region 7 to discuss the mechanics of the program.