MANILA - Filipino participation in trade fairs and selling missions both here and abroad generated $1 billion in sales last year, according to the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).

From trade fairs alone, participants sold $879.019 million worth of goods, with the bulk of the haul at $667.235 million coming from receipts in local events. Sales generated in international trade fairs reached a smaller $211.784 million.

"We participated in 10 international trade fairs to promote our country as a viable source of quality products and to introduce the products of our exporters to foreign markets," Trade Undersecretary Ponciano Manalo Jr. said in a statement.

These include the Euroluce in Italy, the Hong Kong Houseware Fair, the Maison Et Objet in France, the Hotel Show in Dubai, the Fashion Access in Hong Kong, the Gulfood in Dubai, the Foodex in Japan, the Anuga in Germany, the Seafex in Dubai and the China-Asean Expo in China.

Combining the sales of outbound trade missions worth $77.54 million to international trade fairs, Philippine exporters racked up a $219.538 million, or less than half what they raised from taking part in local trade fairs alone.

Exporters took part in six outbound missions last year, particularly in China, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait and Japan. These involved enterprises involved in fresh and processed fruits, organic and conventional coconut products, coffee, piña fiber, processed poultry, seafood products, software development,
and personal care products.

In contrast inbound business matching sessions generated only $2.02 million worth of sales from buyers emanating from Israel, Turkey, China, South Korea, the Netherlands, Singapore, Poland, the United States, Japan, United Kingdom, and Australia

According to DTI estimates, inbound and outbound missions should generate a combined $42.738 million in sales in two years.

"The DTI through CITEM (Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions) organized four international trade events in the country. These events intend to provide local manufacturers a boost in seeking opportunities in the traditional markets abroad and the emerging markets in Asia," Manalo said.

The four international trade events organized in the Philippines last year are the International Food Exhibition Philippines, DeXign Global Philippines, and the March and October editions of Manila FAME.

For this year onwards, DTI is banking on other programs such as the Regional Interactive Platform for Philippine Exporters (RIPPLES) and the Doing Business in Free Trade Areas (DBFTA) to boost export receipts.

The RIPPLES is aimed at providing exporters information about international market access requirements, product trends and developments, and other trade information for them to be competitive.

The DBFTA meanwhile is a series of business information sessions for local businesses to take advantage of preferential tariffs and other opportunities of the country's free trade agreements.

The Philippines has free trade agreements with Japan and Asean, as well as with China, Korea, India, Japan, Australia and New Zealand as part of Asean.