In a keynote address during the 2022 National Export Congress with the theme “Paving the way toward exporting breakthroughs”, Pascual acknowledged that while the country’s exports have been growing, it is still slower than most of ASEAN countries.
In fact, Pascual said both public and private sectors are called on to work together to unlock the country’s unrealized export potential of $49 billion a year to achieve sustainable and inclusive industrialization. Pascual, who used to be with the academe explained that industry development means addressing constraints to both scale and scope of production—particularly in innovation and value addition, human resource development, business environment, finance, and infrastructure. It means competing beyond pricing and amplifying the quality, value-addition, sustainability, and reliability of Philippine exports in the global market.
Notably, he said, the number one aircraft interiors company in the world and the world’s leading aircraft maintenance-repair-overhaul company are headquartered in the Philippines.