A new support program is being developed with the World Bank (WB) to enhance exporters’ competitiveness.
The collaboration is among the initiatives planned by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) for 2026, announced during the Exporters’ Week celebration held at a hotel in Mandaluyong City.
Export Marketing Bureau (EMB) Director and Export Development Council (EDC) Executive Director Bianca Pearl Sykimte told reporters that DTI holds weekly meetings with WB representatives to refine the program, which will offer both technical and financial assistance to exporters.
While no funding amount has been finalized, Sykimte said it will be “a sizable support for our exporting community.”
“We want to bring in course consultants and experts to guide exporters through the process. We want them to improve their quality management systems and comply with certifications. Of course, complying with certifications requires investment—upgrading technology and providing more training for workers. We’re looking at a mix of grants and concessional loans,” she said.
During her presentation, Sykimte noted that Philippine exporters have access to about 200 markets worldwide, yet only 10 markets account for roughly 81.6 percent of the country’s total exports.
These top markets include:
- United States, 16.6 percent
- Japan and Hong Kong, both at 14.1 percent
- China, 12.9 percent
- South Korea, 4.9 percent
- Thailand and Singapore, both at 4 percent
- The Netherlands, 3.9 percent
- Taiwan, 3.7 percent
- Germany, 3.4 percent
She also acknowledged the decline in the number of exporters. Although DTI has yet to conduct an in-depth assessment, Sykimte attributed the trend partly to business consolidations—where smaller firms merge with larger players—and to companies choosing to focus on the domestic market.
“Again, we don’t have an in-depth study on this, but in terms of export figures, you can see that there’s growth,” she said.
Preliminary data from the Philippine Statistics Authority show that exports grew by 19.4 percent year-on-year in October 2025 to $ 7.39 billion. For the first 10 months of the year, exports increased by 13.8 percent to $70.43 billion.
PIXABAY PHOTO