THE FIRST PHILIPPINE SERVICES CONGRESS, 28 JUNE 2006,

NEW WORLD RENAISSANCE HOTEL, MAKATI CITY

28 June 2006 – Foreign Affairs Undersecretary for International Economic Relations Edsel T. Custodio announced that the First Services Congress was held today at the New World Renaissance Hotel, Makati City, to review the results of twelve sectoral studies aimed at raising the global competitiveness of the Philippine services sector.

The DFA, through the Office of Undersecretary Custodio, is implementing project INT/PHIA1/01 Promotion of Trade in Services through the creation of a Philippine Services Coalition.

Undersecretary Custodio explained that the First Services Congress brought together  government policy makers, the academe, private sector representatives of industry and trade associations, service providers and consumers, and visiting representatives of the country’s  external support network led by the International Trade Center.  Also in attendance were the representative of the EC Asia Trust Fund, Ms. Anja Gomm of the German Technical Cooperation and Dr. Ponciano Intal of the U.S. aided PACT. 

The Congress discussed the results of sectoral studies conducted over the past twelve months on the global competitiveness of several professional sectors and subsectors of our economy.

Under the umbrella of the Philippine Services Coalition project headed by the DFA, the studies cover twelve (12) sectors and subsectors namely, health and wellness (3 subsectors), accountancy (2 subsectors), engineering (2 subsectors), interactive media, shipcrewing and shipmanagement, franchising, education and trade policy and negotiations.

Undersecretary Custodio said, “One of the major objectives of the project was to develop awareness and understanding of the services trade and it is believed that our discussions in different sectors and the outreach events we have participated in, including the presentation to different chambers, e-services fora, the BPO, BPAP, and computer software societies, have achieved this objectives in no small measure.”

In coming up with the studies and recommendations, the research directors and writers (selected from among a renown group of former government officials who have joined the academe, leading professionals, senior research directors from the think tanks and leaders of industry) conducted vast desk researches on the present situation and profile of the Philippines services sector, the regulatory standards and practices prevailing which are benchmarked with that of major service providing and consuming countries. 

The research also managed to identify the array of market barriers confronting the export of these services to major markets and analyzed Philippine competitiveness based on the market requirements matched with the profiles of human resource competencies and availabilities, the modes of supply and the needed promotional activities, trade policy and negotiating support which would enhance the market positioning of these professional services sectors and subsectors.  Various focus group discussions were held with private sector constituencies and professional groups held in and out of Manila like Cebu and Baguio.

At the Congress, stakeholders commented and endorsed the policy recommendations contained in the studies.  Undersecretary Custodio said, “These policy recommendations will be the basis for a strategic framework for development of Philippine Service Exports.  It will specify the roadmap which will define the country’s vision in the global services trade, the roles that will be played by the private sector, the academe and government in the concerted national effort to maintain, and increase, competitiveness in our professional services exports.”

/gary