Electronics sector confident of recovery

MANILA, Philippines - The Semiconductor and Electronics Industries in the Philippines Inc. (SEIPI) is optimistic that the industry will post a strong recovery this year.

“The Philippine semiconductor and electronics industry is gearing up for a snap back and is expecting a strong recovery this year. Present industry guidance for the year is a projected industry growth of 10percent-15percent,” said SEIPI president Ernie Santiago.

Electronic shipments suffered a contraction of 20 percent last year on weaker global demand.

Latest export data from the National Statistic Office (NSO) showed that electronics shipments, which account for 52.2 percent of the total export revenues in January rose by 0.4 percent in January to $2.152 billion from $2.142 billion in the same period last year. Month-on-month, value of shipments rose by 35.1 percent from the $1.593 billion posted in December 2011.

Semiconductors, which composed 37.8 percent of the total exports for January, posted earnings of $1.560 billion, down by 1.8 percent from $1.588 billion in January 2011.

SEIPI also announced yesterday that it is hosting the four-day 17th World Electronics Forum at the Mactan Shangri-la Island Resort in Cebu, Philippines from April 18 to 21, 2012.

The World Electronics Forum (WEF) is a voluntary gathering of CEOs and directors of electronics industry organizations worldwide. It was founded in 1995.

The WEF is convened annually to discuss major topics of common interest, exchange information on services and data, and strengthen relations between electronics industry organizations. Previous WEF meetings were hosted by the USA, China, Japan, UK, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Australia, Israel and India.

Santiago said the Philippines was elected during the 16th WEF held in USA in January last year to host the WEF this year with SEIPI as the host organization.

Over 200 delegates from various foreign electronics industry organizations worldwide, including CEOs, presidents, and executives of SEIPI members are expected to attend the meeting.

During the WEF meeting in the Philippines, the delegates are expected to come up with resolutions on the new directions WEF has to undertake in the following years to shape country, regional, and global agenda.

Its business and technology forum also aims to be an exchange of information on the latest developments, challenges and changes happening in the electronics environment so as to know how the industry could adopt, align or move in-sync with global technology vectors.

WEF speakers will talk on the recent business and technology trends as presented during the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) held in Las Vegas in January 2012; the state of electronics and software in Israel; talk of the president of Underwriter’s Laboratory (UL) on standards and safety, and other topics such as: energy efficiency; environment; business trends; and international trade policies that affects electronics business.

“This important international gathering of electronics industry leaders will help in building the confidence of investors in the Philippines as a competitive and conducive environment for electronics business,” said SEIPI chairman Bing Viera.

“Electronics is one of the priority industries of the government and WEF could also be a good venue for the government to present its plans and programs in moving the country’s economy forward – from infrastructure development to curbing corruption to efforts in continually finding a stable and predictable business environment in the Philippines, among others. The WEF delegates, other than the Philippines being a smart choice for doing business, could be made aware that it is indeed more fun in the Philippines,” Viera added.