Tech companies upbeat as mfg rebounds this year

MANILA, Philippines – The manufacturing sector is expanding faster this year as it posted a double-digit growth of 13.6 percent in the first quarter, a turnaround from the 0.02 percent contraction posted the same period last year, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority’s Monthly Integrated Survey of Selected Industries.

In August, the sector came out of a three-month stupor to resume its uptrend.

This rebound and the promising light it presents to the industry fit this year’s thrust of the Philippine Semiconductor and Electronics Convention and Exhibition (PSECE) which revolved around the theme “Manufacturing and R&D: Leveling up the Philippines’ capability”. The biggest annual convention gathered an exhibition of leading technology companies in the Philippines, including electronics providers, service providers, retailers, and distributors.

“Support industries play a huge role in the growth not only of the manufacturing sector but the overall economy,” said Shingo Ito, VP for Business Development of premier IT-BPO enabler Diversified Technology Solutions International Group (DTSI) which took part in this year’s convention.

“The way we look at it, everyone in the sector should actively seek out opportunities to grow. One factor that could drive this is the converging of these support industries and identifying possible opportunities and partnerships,” he said.

The manufacturing sector can widen its reach by tapping partnerships with other segments of the electronics industry. Through state-of-the-art services and applications that could keep in step with the fast-changing landscape, the industry can meet business expectations and even leverage itself as a globally competitive player.

For its part, DTSI Group has made its mark by providing game-changing technology through its comprehensive portfolio of services that supports the information technology sector. Some of its services include advanced communication services, IT design, and other emerging technologies. The group has serviced a number of multinationals and some of the world’s leading BPOs.

Just like the BPO industry which DTSI has traditionally served, the semiconductor and electronics industry plays a pivotal role in the Philippine economy. It currently accounts for 40 percent of the country’s export.