Furniture pavilion seen to boost intra-Asean trade

MANILA, Philippines - Intra-ASEAN trade is expected to increase with the planned establishment of furniture pavilion in each ASEAN country, including the Philippines.

“With this, we can promote each country’s furniture. And I see that the Philippines will standout because of our unique products and (excellent) design of our furniture,” said Emmanuel Padiernos, vice president for market development of Chamber of Furniture Industries of the Philippines (CFIP).

Padiernos bared that the Philippines and five other member countries of the ASEAN Furniture Industries Council (AFIC) have agreed in principle to create the AFIC pavilion in each country around next year.

He said that aside from the Philippines, the pavilion will be also established in Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore and Vietnam. 

Padiernos, the chief delegate of the Philippines to the AFIC, said he proposed the creation of such pavilion which can serve as a venue for trade shows.  

“They asked me to map out the mechanisms/details which I am going to present during the next AFIC meeting by September. Our target (for the creation of the pavilions) is March 2013 or 2014,” he said.

Apart from this initiative meant to boost Philippine furniture exports to ASEAN, Padiernos said, industry players are keen on penetrating more markets particularly the huge Chinese market.

“China is now becoming a consumption economy rather than an export economy. I think China will become the next economic power in the future because of its large population and high economic growth,” he noted.

To this end, Padiernos said the Chamber is working on the possibility of establishing a permanent furniture showroom in China.