DTI-CITEM Calls for Greater Digital Collaboration among PH Exporters, Stakeholders Amid COVID-19 Pandemic

The Department Trade and Industry, through the Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions (DTI-CITEM), has urged Philippine exporters and its stakeholders to take advantage of available digital tools and online platforms towards greater business collaboration and learning amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

CITEM is the export promotion arm of DTI mandated to promote the Philippines’ export goods and services through signature events and country participations in overseas trade fairs (OTFs). Included in its signature events are Manila FAME, IFEX Philippines: NXTFOOD ASIA, CreatePhilippines, and the Sustainability Solutions Expo (SSX).

“Stronger digital synergy is the way forward in these trying times since events have been canceled or postponed across the world. Our exporters, particularly the micro-, small- and medium-enterprises (MSMEs), should tap strategic social media platforms and digital tools to widen their online reach and continue their working relations with their clients and stakeholders,” said CITEM Executive Director Pauline Suaco-Juan.

“Exporters can also take advantage of available webinars on business, logistics and online marketing, among others, on how they can navigate or bounce back from their current situation,” she added.

To promote the digitalization among MSMEs, DTI recently held a series of free webinars, titled the “CTRL + BIZ: Reboot Now!”, last April 29 to May 2 which was targeted for MSMEs who are interested to transform their business digitally.

Under this webinar series, DTI hosted masterclasses and dialogues on how and why businesses should utilize various e-commerce platforms, logistics services and digital marketing strategies to promote their brand and products online. Resource speakers who took part in the three-day training were representatives from top e-commerce, logistics, and financial firms, including Lazada, Shopee, Zalora, Google, Paymaya, Unionbank, GrabExpress and GCash, among others.

Upcoming online telecasts peek into the future of PH fashion and influencer marketing

“Aside from tapping digital platforms, we are collaborating with key institutions, innovators and resource speakers to encourage growth through learning and business collaboration among our stakeholders. These stakeholders include creatives, influencers, fashion icons and design experts whom CITEM has been working with for years—decades even—in promoting the Philippines to the world,” Suaco-Juan said.

In line with this, Suaco-Juan will co-host an episode of a program on May 5, titled “Re/Start.” Organized by the at the Project Ripple PH, Re/Start is a weekly show that seeks to challenge the ideas of industry innovators in the field of business, creatives, and wellness. It is set to air on Project Ripple PH’s Facebook page.

Co-hosted along with Stephen Ku (Chief Executive Officer, Echochannels), Re/Start’s pilot episode titled “Did the pandemic kill the internet star?” will give an overview on the current state and future of influencer marketing in the Philippines.

The pilot episode will be joined by five digital leaders and influencers, namely Alexander De Leon (Regional Head of Product Marketing, Instagram Asia-Pacific), Jim Guzman (Network Head of Social and General Manager, Dentsu Aegis Network), Neil Trinidad (Country Chief Marketing Officer, Lazada Philippines), Erwan Heusaff (Content Creator and Social Media Influencer) and Carlo Ople (Content Creator and Digital Entrepreneur).

Meanwhile, on May 6, Suaco-Juan will also moderate a discussion that will look into the future of Philippine fashion in an online dialogue, titled “Fashion: Change,” with some of the most recognizable names in country’s fashion design and retail industry, namely Rajo Laurel (Designer, Rajo Laurel, VP of FDCP), Roxanne Farillas (Co-Founder, Plains and Prints), Amina Aranaz-Alunan (Designer, Aranaz, President of FDCP).

Fashion: Change is part of the FASHION FORWARD DIALOGUES, a series of online conversations to spark hope and innovation in the post-COVID-19 era, organized by the Fashion and Design Council of the Philippines, PHx Fashion Conference, and SoFA Design Institute. Interested participants in Fashion: Change may register for free at www.phxfashion.org/dialogues.

To stay up to date on the latest e-learning opportunities and government support programs, Filipino exporters and MSMEs are also encouraged to follow CITEM through their social media pages.