National Exporters' Week 2025: STRENGTHENING THE FUTURE OF PHILIPPINE EXPORTS

Every December, the Philippine export community gathers to celebrate National Exporters' Week (NEW) - a moment to recognize the sector's achievements, reflect on challenges, and reinforce the commitment to accelerating the country's global competitiveness.

- By KATHERINE L. MAGSANOC

As the country marks NEW 2025, exporters, business leaders, enablers, and government partners continue to convene through learning sessions and engagements designed to equip enterprises with the tools and insight needed to thrive in international markets. These programs represent strong private sector and government partnership that has helped push exports to new heights of accomplishments.

Leading the private sector in this week-long celebration is the Philippine Exporters Confederation, Inc. (PHILEXPORT), the national umbrella organization mandated by the Export Development Act of 1994 to implement programs, policies, and support systems that uplift and empower Filipino exporters.

For decades, PHILEXPORT has helped shaped reforms that reduce business costs, modernize and streamline regulatory processes, expand MSME access to markets and other opportunities, and strengthen the country's competitiveness on the global stage.

PHILEXPORT: Advocating for export growth

Representing more than four thousand members across twenty regional chapters and fifty one industry associations, PHILEXPORT continues to serve as the unified voice of the export sector.

The organization works closely with the Departments of Trade and Industry (DTI), Finance, Agriculture, Environment and Natural Resources, Transportation and Information and Communications Technology and private sector partners to push forward trade reforms particularly in logistics, digitalization, financing, and market access.

Its wide range of services - which include policy advocacy, exporter accreditation, export advisory, import and export documentation, travel tax exemption endorsements, APEC Business Travel Card processing, buyerseller matching, and capacity-building programs with global partners like ITC, USAID, ILO, JICA, and CBI Netherlands ―has helped exporters adapt to shifting market demands.