3 August 2004 – Foreign Affairs Undersecretary for International Economic Relations Edsel Custodio today said that the just concluded workshop on “Successful Services Export Promotion” has developed expertise and opened opportunities among DFA and other government officials in the implementation of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s 10-point agenda particularly in the generation of employment.

Speaking at a press conference after the closing ceremonies of the workshop, Undersecretary Custodio said the 2-day meeting “is a humble start to a noble effort to help uplift the lives of our people through the concept of trade-in services, which suits our natural competitive advantages.”

The Undersecretary stated that trade-in services is the largest and fastest-growing sector of the world economy and comprise 60% of the Philippines’ gross domestic product (GDP). He noted however, that though the Philippines has a natural competitive advantage, it currently lacks a national strategy to fully harness the country’s strengths in this sector.

“I am confident however, that in time, through collaborative workshops such as these, we would be able to come up with a comprehensive strategy on trade-in services for the country which encompasses professionals from all sectors of our society,” Undersecretary Custodio said.

Participants in the workshop, which consist of some 80 representatives from both private and government sectors, were given lectures on the current state of the global market for trade-in services by Ms. Doreen Conrad, Chief of the Trade in Services Section at the International Trade Center (ITC) in Geneva.

Ms. Conrad outlined key areas where the Philippines have competitive opportunities, namely in software development, back office operations, and ICT-enabling services.

“Contrary to popular belief, individuals and companies engaging in trade-in services need not export or outsource their manpower in order to reap the benefits of the market,” Ms. Conrad pointed out. “Whenever foreigners come into the Philippines and pays for local services, the country is already benefiting from trade-in services. What needs to be done is for the country to build up its capacities for attracting the market into the country.”

The participants also engaged in group exercises where they would submit proposals for a national strategy for trade-in services.

“The proposals made by the workshop’s participants lay the groundwork for a coalition encompassing services industries, government and the academe which will then hopefully lead into a consultative mechanism or structure between these three sectors that can help define policies and strategies,” Undersecretary Custodio said. “Though this is just the first step, I hope that this workshop has served as an eye-opener for the government, private sector, and the academe on the possibility of merging into a full-fledged tripartite cooperation in the full range of services development.” - END