SpiceWorx

Philippine Software Industry Association (PSIA) launched a Japanese version website designed by BlastAsia, translated, implemented and hosted by SpiceWorx with sponsorship from Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO).

The Japanese website of PSIA was created as one of the key initiatives for PSIA to increase its presence among Japanese enterprises that consider offshore outsourcing of software development.  SpiceWorx proposed to JETRO Manila Center, who provides various support to promote trade and investment between Japan and the Philippines,  development and maintenance of PSIA's Japanese website emphasizing that it is crucial to provide relevant information in Japanese language for Philippines' software industry to capture greater share of Japanese market. JETRO granted sponsorship for the PSIA's Japanese website.

According to a survey conducted by the Bangko Central Ng Pilipinas (BSP: central bank of the Philippines) Japan was the second largest export destination for the Philippines' software services in 2005. Software service export from the Philippines to Japan was about US$40 million that year, 25% of the total export of about US$160 million.  With this, the Philippines captured less than 1% of Japan's offshore software development market which was JPY 64 billion (approx. US$550 million) in 2005. (*1)

Information Technology Promotion Agency (IPA) of Japan, in its report released in March 2008, projects that Japan will be offshoring JPY 257 billion (approx. US$2.4 billion) worth of software development by 2011. CAGR of the value of offshore software development from Japan between 2006 and 2011 is estimated at around 29%.

Traditionally, software service sector in the Philippines focused on U.S. market and it still is the largest export destination. SpiceWorx strongly believes that Philippines' software industry can capture much greater than 1% of Japan's offshore software development market, if more industry players look at Japan market seriously and act upon executing the right strategy.

Having a web site in Japanese language is a small but essential first step...


(*1): Source: White Paper - Information and Communications in Japan 2007 (Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, Japan)