Europe eyed as market for RP’s IT expertise

Government is eyeing Europe as a potential market for the Philippines’ expertise in the information technology sector.

Trade and Industry Secretary Manuel Roxas II is set to promote the Philippine information technology sector in Europe in a trade and investment promotion mission scheduled from May 19 to 31.

Following successful missions to the United States and Japan, the Arroyo government is eyeing Europe as an emerging niche market for the country’s IT capabilities.

Roxas, along with Trade Undersecretary and Board of Investments managing head Vincent S. Perez Jr., will visit Stockholm, Helsinki, Rotterdam, London, Berlin, Munich and Zurich.

The IT trade and investment mission aims to promote the Philippines’ IT expertise and capabilities in e-services, IT-enabled services, mobile application and software development.

The mission will also explore and/or forge strategic alliances or joint ventures of Philippine companies with their counterparts in Europe in the field of software development, mobile application, e-services and IT-enabled services.

Likewise, the mission will also try to gain more knowledge on the present state and future trends in Information Communication Technology (ICT) and related services.

Lastly, the mission will also push forward the Implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Philippine BOI and the Swiss Organization Facilitating Investments (SOFI) which identifies IT as a priority sector.

Accompanying Roxas and Perez are several private sector participants such as the Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co., Megaworld, the Fort Bonifacio Development Corp., the Information Technology Solutions international Inc., and a few others.

A presentation on the Philippines IT capabilities will be presented in each city.