DTI completes renovation of ITC exhibit hall

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has completed the renovation of Hall One in Pasay City, which will serve as the permanent exhibition center for products of Philippine exporters to help create a bigger market for exports.

Speaking at the opening of Hall One located in the International Trade Center complex, Trade undersecretary Cristino Panlilio said the newly renovated hall would serve as a permanent venue to showcase the country’s exports.

“The idea is to lease (Hall One) for one to two months to a specific association (and) then (they can) invite local and foreign buyers during those two months,” he said.

For instance, he elaborated, the hall could be dedicated for the garments industry for one to two months, and then it could be used to showcase furniture in the next month and for giftwares afterwards.

Panlilio said the government spent P10 million for the renovation of the hall to have a permanent exhibition venue as part of the marketing and promotions strategy for the country’s exports.

He noted that other countries in Asia such as Singapore, Taiwan, and South Korea have their own exhibition halls, and having a permanent venue to showcase products would be beneficial for Philippine exporters.

Apart from serving as a year-round sourcing venue for local and foreign buyers, the hall could also be used for industry meetings and events.

Hall One is one of the nine pavilions in the International Trade Center complex that was used for export promotions in the 1980s.

Of the nine pavilions, two are owned by the DTI, five sitting on the property of the Philippine National Bank, while the rest are held by the Social Security System.

Through the years however, the exhibition venue has been neglected.

With the renovation and opening of Hall One, which will be under the care of the Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions, Panlilio said the government hopes to be able to help exporters expand their market.

“We want to promote a bigger market than just the domestic front,” he said.

Data from the National Statistics Office showed that as of end-October, merchandise exports were valued at $44.475 billion, up 7.1 percent from the comparable period last year.