The country’s electronic exports are projected to more than double to $110 billion by 2030 through a strategic roadmap aimed at moving the local industry up the value chain, according to the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).

“Semiconductors are our number one export, and we want to keep growing that. The Philippine Semiconductor and Electronics Industry (PSEI) Roadmap tells us exactly what we need to do—and who needs to do it,” said Trade Secretary Cristina Roque in a statement on Wednesday, April 8.

PSEI Roadmap is a five-year development plan that aims to position the country as a global powerhouse in the semiconductor and electronics industry.

By 2030, the country’s exports of electronic products are seen rising to $110 billion. Of this amount, semiconductor exports would account for $70 billion, while other electronic products would make up the remaining $40 billion.

Developed by the DTI in coordination with industry stakeholders, research institutions, and partner government agencies, PSEI Roadmap identifies strategic interventions that the government and local industry may pursue to reach the targets.

The roadmap envisions a major transition for the industry, moving from conventional assembly, test, and packaging (ATP) to advanced ATP and integrated circuit (IC) design, and eventually to front-end manufacturing.

It also recommends the establishment of three national laboratories, each with a distinct area of specialization.

“The biggest driver of [this] transition is not just promotion but policy reform, and this roadmap identifies exactly the reforms we need to make it happen,” said Roque.

“We built this with the industry, and we are committed to delivering on it, because the more this sector grows, the more jobs it creates for our people,” she added.

Under PSEI Roadmap, the plan is to train and upskill around 128,000 semiconductor professionals by 2030 to meet the industry’s evolving technical demands.

Executive Secretary Ralph Recto, who chairs the Semiconductor and Electronics Industry Advisory Council (SEIAC), said the government is committed to implementing the roadmap to further strengthen the economic gains from the industry.

He said its implementation must be consistently monitored, with clear deadlines, assigned responsibilities, and legislative action to ensure that its targets remain on track.

Based on DTI data, electronic exports reached $45.96 billion last year, or more than half of the country’s total merchandise exports.

This year, the Semiconductor and Electronics Industries in the Philippines Foundation Inc. (SEIPI) is projecting five-percent growth in exports, exceeding $50 billion to set a new record high.

However, SEIPI president Danilo Lachica recently told Manila Bulletin that the ongoing conflict in the Middle East may impact export revenues this year, especially due to the possibility of planes being grounded should jet fuel supplies thin out.

Unlike other commodities, high-value electronic products are primarily shipped through air cargo.