Better packaging can help exports, boost economy — Customs

The local packaging industry needs to find ways to meet international standards to become more competitive in the global market, said experts at the GlobalPack 2012 International Packaging Conference in Iloilo City. In his speech at the opening of the two-day conference on Thursday, Bureau of Customs commissioner Ruffy Biazon said that the packaging sector plays a very important role in the improvement of the economy, particularly with regard to exports, and that greater competitiveness on the part of local industries could quicken the pace of product and packaging development. "Packaging will complete the product," Biazon said. "Packaging will spell success or failure for the product. The packaging industry must then look for ways to meet international standards [like] monitoring the latest trends, seeking out new technologies, and trying out new package designs." Biazon added that international confidence in the Philippines as a regional economic player has grown in recent years. “Growing confidence will lead to an increase in trade, especially for Philippine products,” he said. On the part of Customs, Biazon said that the bureau will streamline its processes with the purpose of lessening corruption and inconvenience for exporters and importers. The Central Philippine University (CPU) Packaging Center, which presented the conference, called for a new roadmap for export packaging that will identify opportunities, track market trends and take advantage of the upswing in Asian economies, which is projected by the Asian Development Bank to grow 6.6 percent this year and 7.1 percent in 2013. The university has been spearheading the development of packaging in the Philippines and recently established the Packaging Center for Packaging Engineering and Technology. According to the university, data from the National Statistics Office showed that the export packaging industry has been growing steadily since 2009, reaching P163.2 million at the end of 2011. Total merchandise exports in 2011 amounted to P48 billion. The Department of Trade and Industry earlier urged the sector to step up the international marketability of local products by improving packaging and shipping methods. The government has been placing more emphasis on the importance of proper packaging for products manufactured by small- and medium-scale enterprises in order to give local entrepreneurs a fighting chance in the international market. — BM/VS, GMA News