THE Board of Investments (BOI) is preparing industry players in the gifts, decor, and houseware (GDH) sector to become more competitive suppliers in the global market. UP-ISSI crafted the GDH Roadmap in consultation with industry stakeholders, the BOI and other relevant government agencies. “These industries employ between 690,000 to around a million people, so it is important that the GDH sector gets the necessary boost as it provides much-needed employment especially in the countryside. The GDH roadmap indicated that there are around 2,412 handicraft enterprises in the country, most of which are MSMEs with majority located in the NCR, Cordillera Region, Region 5, and Region 12. Although the latest figures show that the GDH accounts for barely one percent of total Philippine exports, the sector remains unfazed.

Source: Manila Times November 14, 2016 16:46 UTC