Asean steps up integration of production and trade facilitation

The Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) is stepping up the regional integration of production and trade facilitation.

ASEAN delegates extensively discussed the matter during the recent ASEAN Electronics Forum (AEF) in Baguio City.

The delegates presented solutions to the four issues involved to put the integration process into motion.

According to Trade Undersecretary Gregory Domingo, the proposed solutions are geared towards mutually beneficial cooperative ventures that would boost the Philippines competitiveness in the electronics sector, not just as a country, but collectively as a region.

Board of Investments (BOI) executive director Elmer C. Hernandez, who chaired the AEF meeting, added that "our industries must benefit from the integration and use the region’s collective strength to develop our local electronics firms."

Other concerns and issues also discussed during the AEF were standards/mutual recognition agreement (MRA), ASEAN strategy on China, ASEAN integration (market and production) and trade facilitation.

Among the solutions the delegates presented were the harmonization of ASEAN standards, development of the ASEAN design, setting up of logistical support, and promotion of investments in the ASEAN region.

Hernandez related that the ASEAN delegates strongly recommended that the ASEAN should harmonize its standards especially for product highly traded within ASEAN for smooth exchange of goods in the region.

"ASEAN has to factor in the prevailing international standards as part of its benchmark," he said.

Hernandez added that there was also a suggestion that ASEAN design be developed for the ASEAN market.

According to Hernandez, "Our products must cater to the taste and preference or the ASEAN customer."

BOI director and DTI senior brand manager to electronics Armenia Ballesteros said that, using the ASEAN design as a strategy would increase the competitiveness of its electronics industries and address the threats posed by the surge of Chinese imported products.