According to the BETP Circular, all wooden packaging materials imported into or transiting Kuwait should go through the approved ISPM 15 measures of heat-treating or chemical-treating and bear the marking and stamp from the country of origin it went through appropriate procedures.

If the importer refuse to abide by the required procedure, the wood packaging materials shall bve disposed of or its entry to the country shall be refused and the importers shall afford all administrative expenses.

For inquiries, please contact the Bureau of Export Trade Promotion through telephone nos. (632) 890-4723 and 896-3251.

Source:EDC Informs March 2009

Source: EDC Informs March 2009

The One-on-One consultancy will focus on Product Collection Mechandising Program Spring-Summer 2010 in conformity with the Bijoux 2009 Creative Matrix.

A minimal fee of Five Thousand Pesos (P5000.00) will be charged for the development of four (4) collections with six (6) products per collectin and with product expansion for free.

There will also be a free Trend Seminar for Spring-Summer 2010 on March 26, 2009, 2pm.

For further inquiries of the scheduled one-one consultancies, please contact FAME Secretariat at telephone # 255-0851/61 or thru email: info@cebufame.com.ph.

At least 30 local donors and three foreign donors who showed support for the project. Currently, Planitoi. S.A. a portugal-based company donated 1 hectare pangantuon trees per year in the amount of $2, 500 per hectare for a period of 5 years.

We are about to “chart” the 10 hectares with the names of donors, and sub-donors and put their names in the registry of books. Plantation and protection maintenance are the next activities for the remaining months of this year. By 2009, plantation expansion begins with 15 hectares per year for until 2015.

Meanwhile, Go Green Philippines trademark application had been allowed by the Intellectual Property Office.

Now, with the growing popularity of green jewelry across the world, the Philippines is positioning itself to be Asia's prime destination for green jewelry.

With this in mind, the Cebu FAME Foundation Philippines has indentified the need to ensure the sustainability of the country's natural resources with the support of the international community.

Dubbed GO GREEN PHILIPPINES, this long-term project is currently in its first phase and primary purpose-forest management. It aims to replenish a 100-hectare barren land with lush tree plantation by 2015.

The trees to be planted and cultivated are the wild mamalis (pangantuon) trees. A source of white wood that dyes and shapes with flawless precision, these are the materials of choice for beautifully crafted fashion accessories.

And with your help, the 3-fold objective of GO GREEN PHILIPPINES can be met:

• RECYCLE natural components to ensure continuing natural sources.
• REPLENISH what is used to use what has been replenished.
• REVITALIZE nature and breathe new life to the communities.

(Courtesy of BayanihanPost.com!) http://www.bayanihanpost.com/bp/newsarticle92fashion-accessory-makers-create-%27green%27-products.html

Bijoux Cebu, Cebu's first international trade show for fashion accessories were organized. last September 20-22, 2008 at Shangri-la, Mactan Island and Spa, Mactan, Cebu to position Cebu and the country as Asia's destination for green jewelry.

With the increasing awareness for ecological preservation, buyers are now ardent on eco-fashion materials. The positioning Cebu as Asia's destination for green jewelry helps strengthen the fashion accessory sector that has been experiencing a slowdown in the past three years.

Janet Chua, president for FAME Foundation, Philippines, Inc., said that eco-fashion offers many oppurtunites for manufacturers and exporters as  most of their raw materials come from indigenous natural resources.

FAME collaborated with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources on its reforestation programs.

"FAME wants to contribute to the DENR's reforestation program. The fashion accessories industry is dependent on the indigenous materials like wood, sea shells, and other wildlife by-products," said Chua.

Together they launched Go Green Philippines Program last October 2007. Go Green Philippines is sustainable environment program to revitalize country's ecosystem (forest and coastal enviroment), provide livelihood, and sustain supply of raw materials for fashion accessories sector.

Currently in its first phase, Go Green Philippines is focused on forest management program. It aims to replenish a 100-hectare barren forest with lush tree plantations by 2015. Cebu has 140,000 hectares of government lands, of which only 5 percent covered with vegetation. DENR is targeting to increase vegetation-covered  lands to 18 percent by the year 2015.

Last September 2008, FAME Foundation initially planted 25, 500 Mamalis tree or locally known as Pangantuon in its 10 hectares pilot plantation project at Catmondaan, Catmon, Cebu. Pangantuon trees are the prime source of white wood in the industry since they can absorb dye and malleable, i.e. which can be easily manipulated according to ones shapes and style.

Go Green Philippines was intensively promoted during the Bijoux Cebu event. Buyers reacted postively on the program. Jonathan Keating of East London-based company, donated $2, 500 which is equivalent to 2, 500 trees.

Chua hoped that more buyers would donate trees (like Mr. Keating). "Everyone is invited to support this program," said Chua.

Buyers were encouraged to buy Philippine-made product and recieve Go Green certificates representing their donation trees.

With this buyers are assured of a continuing source of merchandize and protected environment.

In the press conference, Janet Chua, president for Cebu FAME Foundation, Inc. said that with over 30 years of experience in eco-fashion, the Philippines can be the prime destination for green jewelry.

"Bijoux Cebu is our way of thanking our valued customers for their continued support and appreciation of the Philippine Fashion Accessory Industry, Chua said.”

 Bijoux Cebu is a trade-only exhibit open to all local and foreign buyers. It is supported by the Department of Trade and Industry, Department of Science and Technology, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, and Export Development Council.

 Aside to the exhibit, Bijoux Cebu would have full program of activities to entertain the buyers. A daily fashion shows to showcase top-of-the-line accessories, on the spot design competitions, craft demonstrations, on the spot product development, and cash and carry area where shoppers can buy ready stocks at discounted rates.

Buyers would also be given an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at the Philippine fashion accessories industry in a special trip to selected factories in Cebu

Other incentives would be given Cash rebates and welcome vouchers await the first 100 buyers who could pre-register. Big discounts are further being offered for resort accommodations at Shangri-la’s Mactan Resort and Spa.

Bijoux Cebu happens on September 20-22, 2008 at Shangri-la’s Mactan Resort and Spa, Cebu. For more details, visit www.bijouxcebu.com  or call the secretariat at (6332) 255-0851 or (6332) 255-0861or email at info@cebufame.com.ph

About nineteen media personnel from different media outfits attended the press conference.  Bai Congmon and Marisol Luna of 101.9 FM, James Boyles and James Remulta of Skycable, Vanessa Nesternini of Zee Lifestyle, Debbie Lawas and Amor Casido of Home Radio, Jen Vega Rhia de Pablo and Emma Villarente of the Freeman, Golden Epondilaw, Grace Carmona and Anabelle Balanzar of Cebu Daily News, Arni Aclao of Sunstar Daily, Carla Estella and Junjun Cantutay of GMA-7, David Harris and Mona Polo of Bite Magazine, Richard Ramos of Expot Newspaper.

 Bijoux Cebu will showcase Philippines finest fashion accessories and costume jewelries that make use of raw materials and local ingenuity.

Bijoux Cebu seeks to provide a platform for the Philippines to be a major player in the rising popularity of eco-fashions.

Janet Chua, president for Cebu FAME Foundation, Inc. will introduce Bijoux Cebu and Go Green Philippines program before the media.PJ Arañador an International Lifestyle Designer and Event Consultant discusses the Eco Chic trend setting for spring-summer 2009.

Highlights of the events for Bijoux Cebu exhibition will be presented  by Butch Carungay chairman for Bijoux Cebu organizing committee.  Asteria Caberte, Regional Director for Department of Industry (DTI) talks about the support of the Philippine government in the fashion industry.

The press conference is one of the series of promotional activities conducted by Cebu FAME Foundation, the organizing body for Bijoux Cebu. 

Bijoux Cebu happens on September 20-22, 2008 at Shangri-la’s Mactan Resort and Spa, Cebu.

(See attached press con program)

PJ Arañador, a renowned International Lifestyle Designer, trains the participants in comprehensive levels specific to exports, refreshes them to new modern export market changes, and introduces them to new entrepreneurship learnings to generate work and profit.

Participants are expected to create their own products out of their learnings and hands-on applications. Arañador and FAME Design Committee will evaluate the products of the participants.

Products that pass the evaluation will be displayed at the special set of the Bijoux Cebu on September 19-21, 2008 at Shangri-la's Mactan Island Resort and Spa, Cebu.

Bijoux Cebu is an international trade fair to highlight the rising popularity of eco-fashion, where Philippines is being known for its varied natural and indigenous raw materials. Three hundred (300) foreign and local trade buyers with sixty (60) exhibitors are expected to attend.

FAME members can avail one free slot for the workshop since the foundation was able to get a subsidy from Export Development Fund (EDF). If  members will send additional participant, they will pay 5, 000 pesos as succeeding charge, whereas non-FAME participants pay 7, 500 pesos. The training fee is good for one month activities.

Graduates will receive training certificates as major in design development in natural materials and major in design and product development in fashion bags.

Interested individuals are advised to make reservations. In case of changes in schedule and venue, only those who arranged for reservations through fax and email will be informed.

The workshop is in collaboration with PJ Design Studio, owned by PJ Arañador.

For queries, please call Mr. Gil Ovillo, Training Assistant at the Following numbers, (032) 255-0851, 61 Fax: (032) 255-0832 or email us at info@cebufame.com.ph

Please download the attached topics and schedule of activities.

Shop opens daily from 10AM- 5:00 PM.

The exhibit area allocated for the Philippines is 247 sqm located in the area called "Islands and Coasts". The Philippine Pavilion, among many components, will have a Boutique Area of about twenty (20) sqm where Philippine Merchandise items will be sold. High quality and unique-made Philippine products will be pre-screend by PCVC.

Deadline for confirmation of interest to participate and completion of the Supplier Form is on the 15th January 2008.  If interested, kindly contact FAME Secretariat.

Essentially, the Discount Program details that FAME Members of good standing can opt to purchase direclty from S.E.A. Olympus with the corresponding discounts - five (5%) per cent for cash on delivery (COD) or through the Foundation's credit facility (PHILEXIM) and avail seven (7%) per cent discount with thirty (30) days terms from FAME at two (2%) per cent interest.

Saturday, October 13, 2007

After initiating a reforestation project ten years ago that covers five hectares of land in Manipis, Talisay City, Cebu- FAME is continuing its environmental advocacy with a new program called the “Go Green Philippines.”

Fashion Accessories Manufacturers and Exporters Foundation (Cebu-FAME) is the leading business support organization for costume jewelry in the Philippines and it is composed of a hundred exporters and manufacturers. This sector is known as the major supplier of costume jewelry to the world using indigenous materials such as sea shells, wood, coconut and other plant and wild-life products.

After its reforestation project has been successfully implemented which provided sustainable livelihood opportunities for the community as well as continuous cultivation of a variety of tree species used for lumber, costume jewelry and other commercial uses, Cebu FAME aimed to further its environmental undertaking through its new endeavor, “Go Green Philippines.”

The project will be a joint undertaking with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) for the purpose of research and development of natural resources on which the Philippine costume jewelry is dependent upon.

As proposed by the DENR, the areas covered in the project includes forest management wherein planting of pangantuon (whitewood), ipil (brownish wood), and sibucao (red wood), buri propagation and bamboo planting will be done. It also includes a Coastal Environmental Program which will aim for coral reefs protection and sea shell sanctuaries establishment. Another will be the livelihood projects for rural communities including skills training and education that can support the fashion jewelry sector.

DENR 7’s Regional Technical Director Ema Milana said that, “this particular initiative is the first of its kind in the Philippines and it will do well for both DENR and FAME and also for other people’s organization as wood sources are becoming scarce these days.”

She added that usually wood sources utilized by the costume jewelry industry are not plantation species or are indigenous and therefore collected from the wild. She added that with the “Go Green Philippines’ program; these sources will be replenished for continued usage.

According to the Cebu FAME foundation, they envision the project to help revitalize, replenish and preserve our natural resources with the support of its members as well as foreign buyers who will fund the project.

— Rhia de Pablo : www.philstar.com

• Offer Courses on "Design Techniques", "Visual Merchandising", "Components Development Techniques" (e.g. Electroplating and Non-Ferrous Plating, Understanding Resin, Glass-Making techniques "African Style")
• Sub-Contractors' Training (In-House)
• Organization Development Financial Management Marketing, Packaging, Design, Advertising Production Management
• Sub-Contractors' Training Productivity Improvement Programs Good Housekeeping Clean Production Values Costing and Budgeting Positive Work Attitudes
• Offer discussions on shell culture like "black lip"

B. Marketing

• Invite Chinese equipment suppliers ( chain-making, plastic injection) to set-up business prospects in Cebu
• Provide market intelligence through the renewal of online trend forecasting (WGSN)
• Website Revamp
• Identify profitable and promising industry niches and provide support to pioneering Companies who start venturing into new niches
• Organize cost effective mini-Shows (Feb-Mar in HKG Grand Hyatt) Designate "Wholesale Section" during the MFI -October edition "Everything for Two"

C. Environment

• Liaise with DENR on regulatory requirements needed to plant and harvest trees

D. Membership

• Establish a tax-free "Bulk-Buying System" for commonly used raw materials
• Link up with hardware stores and other raw materials suppliers to arrange for bulk discounts

E. Advocacy

• Impact of Strengthening of the Peso
• Export Assistance Fund from Central Bank for the development of the Industry Supply Chain

Data sourced from NSO (National Statistics Office) and processed by Bureau of Export Trade Promotion (BETP). http://tradelinephil.dti.gov.ph/betp/statcod2.topetry