ILOILO CITY, Iloilo, Philippines (PIA) — Industries in Western Visayas with strong export potentials and which can generate more foreign currency reserves, contributing further to the region’s development have been identified in Region 6’s 2011-2016 Regional Development Plan.

The list includes loomweaving/indigenous fibers in Aklan, muscovado sugar in Antique, horticulture in Capiz, mango in Guimaras, bamboo in Iloilo, and gift ware and holiday décor in Negros Occidental.

These province’s products for export include loom woven cushion covers, placemats, fabrics, table runners, bags, and shawls; muscovado rocks and muscovado sugar in sachets; flora like dracaena sanderina, florida beauty, godseffiana, polycias, song of Korea, and ophiopogon; fresh mangoes, dried mango preserves, ketchup and wine from mango; furniture and furnishings from bamboo; and assorted laminated products, tabletop accessories, lampshades, baskets and ceramics from giftware and holiday décor.

Already connected with foreign buyers, these sectors have existing markets in some countries in Asia, United States, Europe, and the Middle East and are targeting new markets in other countries in those areas.

The regional development plan calls for the promotion of these industries’ export potentials as a priority activity to propel their competitiveness in the global market and increase the region’s export revenues, recorded at $160 million in 2009.

Promotion activities include improving the productivity and efficiency of the industries and enhancing the quality and packaging of their exports.

These potentially strong exports are on top of Western Visayas’ existing products or commodities traded abroad which includes coal, raw sugar, sugarcane molasses, crab meat, and assorted frozen marine products.

These products and industries are also part of the industry sector which remains the region’s engine of economic growth, posting an annual average rate of 8.4 percent over a period, from 2004 to 2009, fueled mainly by the rapid growth of mining and quarrying and the construction subsectors.