The role of global value chains (GVCs) as channels for the growth of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) was emphasized at a policy forum hosted recently by the World Bank (WB)-Philippine Office and state think tank Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS).
“Three quarters of world trade is in intermediate goods and services,” said Olivier Cattaneo, WB senior economist. “It’s much harder (for MSMEs) to export directly than indirectly.”
For the Philippines, GVC participation presents an opportunity for leaders to improve the quality of jobs in the country and for MSMEs to access international markets.
“It’s not only about entering GVCs but also about upgrading once you’re in GVCs,” said Cattaneo. To explain this point, he enumerated the vertical transfer from lead firms to MSMEs of the following benefits: skills and management capacities, technology upgrades and innovations, access to finance, access to global markets and increased connectivity, and an overall improved business environment.
Compared to its peers in the region, Catteneo said the Philippines “could do better.” In the past years, the pattern has seen a decline in Philippine exporters using foreign input, and an increase in Philippine input in other countries’ exports. This means the Philippines has become “less integrated in the global value chains”, moving further away from the end consumer, and, thus, away from control of the market.
Noticeably, another character of Philippine GVC participation, according to Cattaneo, is “less GVC integration in electronics, but more in services.”
Ramonette Serafica, PIDS senior fellow, said there has been “an increase of services intensification” in various industries across the country, whether they are already service chains or manufacturing chains.
Most of the Philippine MSMEs are concentrated in three industries—retail and wholesale, accommodation, and foods services and manufacturing.
“In each of these industries, there are also subvalue chains occurring,” Serafica said, adding that , “although not explicitly identified, they also need broadband services, financial services, and other services to implement the various activities along the value chain.”//
“Three quarters of world trade is in intermediate goods and services,” said Olivier Cattaneo, WB senior economist. “It’s much harder (for MSMEs) to export directly than indirectly.”
For the Philippines, GVC participation presents an opportunity for leaders to improve the quality of jobs in the country and for MSMEs to access international markets.
“It’s not only about entering GVCs but also about upgrading once you’re in GVCs,” said Cattaneo. To explain this point, he enumerated the vertical transfer from lead firms to MSMEs of the following benefits: skills and management capacities, technology upgrades and innovations, access to finance, access to global markets and increased connectivity, and an overall improved business environment.
Compared to its peers in the region, Catteneo said the Philippines “could do better.” In the past years, the pattern has seen a decline in Philippine exporters using foreign input, and an increase in Philippine input in other countries’ exports. This means the Philippines has become “less integrated in the global value chains”, moving further away from the end consumer, and, thus, away from control of the market.
Noticeably, another character of Philippine GVC participation, according to Cattaneo, is “less GVC integration in electronics, but more in services.”
Ramonette Serafica, PIDS senior fellow, said there has been “an increase of services intensification” in various industries across the country, whether they are already service chains or manufacturing chains.
Most of the Philippine MSMEs are concentrated in three industries—retail and wholesale, accommodation, and foods services and manufacturing.
“In each of these industries, there are also subvalue chains occurring,” Serafica said, adding that , “although not explicitly identified, they also need broadband services, financial services, and other services to implement the various activities along the value chain.”//
