PGMA, SEIPI celebrate RP's electronic industry's success at SEIPI's 10th anniversarry

MANILA, Oct. 6 (PNA) -- President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo joins Monday the Semi Conductors and Electronic Industries in the Philippines, Inc.(SEIPI) in celebrating the country’s electronics sector’s success at the 10th founding anniversary of the largest and leading organization of electronics companies in the country.

The SEIPI CEO Forum, an event held every year and is the highlight of the celebration of October as the Electronics Industry Month, will be held at the Heroes Hall of Malacanang with no less than the President as the Guest of Honor and Speaker.

Over 200 guests and participants from government and the electronics sector are expected to attend the event that will map out measures to sustain the growth momentum and make the country a strategic choice for electronics investments.

The movers and shakers in the electronics sector, together with the government, are expected to discuss measures on how to improve on the sector’s global competitiveness against the backdrop that the melting down of the US economy has trickled down not only to the Philippines but has also dampened demand for electronics products and semiconductors in Europe and Japan.

However, industry leaders see nothing but growth this year.

The electronics sector accounts for 63 percent of the total export revenue of the country, making it the main driver of the Philippine economy.

It has a workforce of 300,000 and electronic companies sell about P32 billion a year.

According to the National Statistics Office, electronics (which includes semiconductors), accounts for 59.6 percent of the total dollar receipts in February this year. This grew by 4.7 percent to US$ 2.456 billion from US$ 2.346 billion a year ago.

In 2007, investments in the electronics industry nearly doubled the figure in 2006. At end-December, investments in the electronics sector reached US$ 1.4 billion or 87 percent more than the US$ 747 million invested in 2006.

The last time investment in his sector exceeded the US$ 1-billion mark was seven years ago.

The SEIPI CEO Forum seeks to unite the industry in its mutual causes and to solve any disparities that may prevent potential promulgation of success and development for the industry as it brings together the top honchos of the semiconductor and electronics companies to discuss the industry’s achievements and focus areas as well as future issues and innovations.

SEIPI President Ernesto B. Santiago will make an introductory presentation entitled “A Snapshot of the Philippine Electronics Industry”.

Arthur Young, SEIPI Chair and PSI Technologies Chair and CEO will give a stirring presentation on “Scanning the Global Electronics Industry Environment” which focuses on industry prognosis and projections on the present low visibility of market demand due to the effect of the global financial crisis and slowing down of the world’s expansion.

Bing Viera, SEIPI Vice Chair and Texas Instruments Philippines President will talk on “The Industry’s Confidence in the Philippines” which will delve into the latest developments of the much-talked-about Texas Instruments expansion on their latest production facility in Clark.

Ed Fortunado, SEIPI Vice Chair and Managing Director of Analog Devices will make a presentation entitled “The Philippines: Moving The Electronics Industry to the Next Level” that will deal with competitiveness and concerns/focus areas that would attract more foreign investors such as Texas Instruments to put faith in the country as well.