by admin | Mar 7, 2018 | DTI Updates, Headlines
From L to R: Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Undersecretary Ceferino S. Rodolfo, DTI Secretary Ramon M. Lopez, Senator Loren B. Legarda, Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Undersecretary Manuel Antonio J. Teehankee, and DFA Assistant Secretary Leo M. Herrera-Lim.
Pasay City—Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez hailed the ratification of the Senate of the Philippines-European Free Trade Association Free Trade Agreement (PH-EFTA FTA) during its third reading last 05 March 2018.
“The PH-EFTA FTA is in line with President Rodrigo Duterte’s strategy of pursuing trade relations with non-traditional as well as high potential trade partners. With this ratification, the Philippines will benefit from expanded trade engagements with non-EU members even as it gives us greater access to the European market,” said Sec. Lopez.
The agreement will allow duty-free market access between the Philippines and the EFTA member states (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland) to trade products and services and facilitate investments.
Sec. Lopez said: “While there’s a large potential to expand our trade and investment relations with EFTA, the FTA also capitalizes on it since trade goods between the Philippines and EFTA are non-competing.”
The FTA benefits the PH especially in exporting agricultural, industrial, and fishery products. Once the FTA is in place, EFTA will grant duty-free market access to all industrial and fishery products from PH.
PH will also gain tax incentives on agricultural products, particularly those (1) that are currently being exported to the EFTA Member States such as desiccated coconut, prepared or preserved pineapples, and raw cane sugar; (2) with high potential export interest, including those exported to neighboring European countries, which can be alternatively exported to EFTA countries.
“This will improve the country’s market share vis-à-vis the other ASEAN countries in the EFTA market. The Philippines can take the opportunity to position itself as EFTA’s primary import source of these products,” said Senator Loren B. Legarda, Chair of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations during her speech at the Senate last February 26.
In return, PH will also grant EFTA countries duty-free market access on most industrial and fishery products as well as market access on goods such as temperate fruits, mineral and aerated waters, food preparations, chocolate, cheese and wine.
The agreement will also welcome foreign investments on renewable energy, computer and related services (IT-BPM), construction, environmental services, maritime transport, and finance.
Highly-skilled Filipino workers will also have easier entry in the 4 countries. The agreement allows temporary stay of the following service suppliers, without the need for an economic needs test: (1) executives, managers and specialists (who are intra-corporate transfers), (2) business visitors, (3) contractual service suppliers, and (4) installers of service industrial machinery.
The PH-EFTA FTA will be effective three months after its ratification in PH and at least one EFTA member state. Once implemented, this is the Philippines’ second bilateral FTA after the Japan-Philippine Economic Partnership Agreement (JPEPA) in 2008.
by admin | Mar 6, 2018 | Business, Headlines
The Department of Trade and Industry Region and Department of Public Works and Highways Region in CALABARZON Region recently conducted a Regional Orientation for the Roads Leveraging Linkages of Industry and Trade (ROLL-IT) Program to facilitate efficient and coordinated efforts among the two Departments to identify, prioritize, and implement road access infrastructure leading to various industries and economic zones in a technically-correct and politically-participative process with input and support from the business and civil society, as well as, local government units (LGUs).
The Roads Leveraging Linkages for Industry and Trade or ROLL IT Program aims to further the growth of investments and other economic activities in the country through more road projects leading to manufacturing and economic zones.
DTI CALABARZON was tasked to identify potential industry road projects using the Road Leveraging Linkages Evaluation Rating System (ROLLERS)—identification, importance, necessity, and implementability/readiness.
“DTI and DPWH joined forces to address the damaged and impassable roads leading to industries and trade development cities and towns in CALABARZON because we aim to have inclusive economic growth,” said DTI CALABARZON Director Marilou Toledo.
Launched in November 2016, the two government agencies signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) for the ROLL IT project implementation on road connectivity for industry and trade development. Under the agreement, DTI will identify areas where industry sectors need road facilities and connectivity.
For 2018, ROLL IT has 229 total approved projects nationwide, with estimated number of 502.1 kilometers amounting to P12.5 billion.
In CALABARZON, there are eight ROLL IT projects amounting to P479 million in the following areas namely, Dasmarinas, Cavite; Cabuyao City, Laguna; Lopez, Quezon; Alabat, Quezon; Guinayangan, Quezon; Gumaca, Quezon; Atimonan, Quezon; and Tagkawayan, Quezon.
The ROLL IT Convergence Program will be one of the strong platforms of the promise of a Golden Age of Infrastructure for the Philippines, through a target of national infrastructure budget of 7% of Gross Domestic Product, roughly equivalent to around P8.2 trillion.
The ROLL IT Program will further fuel the recent high growth of domestic investments as well as the surge in foreign direct investments of the country, through more road projects funded within 2016-2022.
The ROLL IT program’s goal is to prioritize infrastructure development in the country. It will leverage on the success and experiences of the DOT-DPWH Convergence Program or the Tourism Road Infrastructure Program (TRIP) that lead to the upgrading of roads leading to tourist destinations.
The initiative of DTI and DPWH is intended to contribute in delivering accelerated infrastructure development and inclusive economic growth.
Through better road infrastructure connecting the industries, industrial and regional development strategy can be realized and will further facilitate balanced development, dispersal of industries away from urban areas towards the rural areas, creating more job and income opportunities to more Filipinos.
by admin | Mar 5, 2018 | Business, National News
05 March 2018 – The Department of Trade and Industry, through the Philippine Trade Training Center (PTTC) in partnership with The British Council, opens a Creative Enterprise Programme for Filipino creative entrepreneurs on April 17-19, 2018 at the PTTC, Pasay City.
A three-day practical workshop that helps creative entrepreneurs unlock their business ideas, participants will learn the key aspects of setting up and running a creative business that will turn these ideas into a reality – from developing business proposition, to exploring their potential customer base, and thinking about finances.
The workshop is led by Catherine Docherty, an accredited trainer and creative entrepreneur, who has worked in design and innovation for over 20 years in the UK. She is also Founder and Managing Director of Journey Associates, an agency that helps organizations improve their economic and social impact through a participatory, design-led approach.
First launched in the Philippines in 2015, the Creative Enterprise Programme is developed by Nesta, the UK’s innovation foundation, designed specifically for the creative industries, such as advertising, architecture, arts & culture, craft, design, fashion, games, music, publishing, tech, TV and film. Past participant Kiko Kintanar of Earthworks Fashion shares, “It was exciting and fun. It placed my goals into perspective and gave me an idea on how to start a creative enterprise or improve it.”
All participants get a certificate of completion from British Council, PTTC, and Nesta.
Interested parties are invited to apply before 30 March 2018 through British Council Philippines’ website (http://britishcouncil.ph). You may also contact PTTC thru Guia Soriano at guiasoriano@pttc.gov.ph | 831-9988 or 263-7931. Workshop fees and early bird rates apply.
by admin | Mar 5, 2018 | Business, DTI Updates
Are your eyes all set for cool, modern and 100% Filipino creations? Join us at a Buyers’ Day on March 08, 2018 at 1:30 pm at the Golokal!ConceptStore@DTI and check out the newest collections for the season.
by admin | Mar 5, 2018 | DTI Updates, Photo Story
DTI INKS PARTNERSHIP WITH SHOPINAS, AIR 21. Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Ramon Lopez signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with Shopinas and Air 21 on 5 March 2018 to provide an e-commerce platform for Go Lokal! products. “This is a partnership on innovation, which is a key element in DTI’s thrust to support the micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs). Through this platform, our MSMEs will be able to reach out a larger market beyond the boundaries of the country while maximizing their potential,” said Sec. Lopez. A specially designed Go Lokal! microsite will be available on Shopinas website that will feature MSME products. Items purchased on this platform will be delivered through Air 21. Go Lokal! accredited stores will also be featured on the main website bearing a badge for identification. “This partnership allows us to fulfill our mission to empower local entrepreneurs by bringing their businesses online and pushing Filipino e-commerce to be a dominant force in the world,” said Air 21 Global Inc. President and CEO Lucia Jane Lina. Shopinas and Air 21 are two of the businesses under Air 21 Global Inc. The group specializes in e-commerce, logistics, and customer service. In the photo are (L to R): Air 21 Head for Regional Business Development Rhona Begonia, Air 21/Shopinas Digital Business Head Mark Joseph Panganiban, DTI Assistant Secretary Rosvi Gaetos, Air21 Global Inc. President and CEO Lucia Jane Lina, Sec. Ramon Lopez, Airfreight 2100 President Reuben Pangan, DTI Director Rhodora Leaño, and Assistant Director Marievic Bonoan
