Phl sets game plan ahead of ASEAN integration

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippines is adopting a national game plan for competitiveness in preparation for economic integration in Southeast Asia by 2015.

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) is holding a forum on Thursday to discuss preparations for the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC). To be tackled in detail are topics such as competitiveness as a driver of growth, deeper private sector engagement in the region’s economic integration process, and the adoption of a strong and harmonized national game plan for AEC.

 The event is organized by the DTI and the Committee for AEC, a government inter-agency committee created to prepare for the regional integration, with support from the US Agency for International Development.

“In the DTI tradition of collaboration and consultation, our sustained engagements with the private sector have proven helpful in identifying issues and focusing on areas that require intervention. That is why both private and public sectors need to discuss and align our trade and economic interests in ASEAN, as well as in the rest of the Asia Pacific region,” said Trade Undersecretary Adrian Cristobal Jr.

The AEC creates a single market economy with free movement of goods, services and investments throughout the region by December 2015.

 In preparation for the AEC, member countries have already brought down tariffs across the region.

By virtue of the ASEAN Trade in Goods Agreement, over 90 percent of goods are now traded at zero tariff within the region and only a few products are still protected by high duties such as rice, sugar, swine, and chicken.

“Since 2010, most ASEAN goods have been traded in the region at zero tariff, including products from the Philippines. A considerable number of our local companies have since established their presence within the ASEAN, engaged in healthy competition with businesses located in the region. The private sector has been aggressive in gearing up for competition and complementation, to better serve a bigger market outside of the ASEAN and strengthen their market presence,” Cristobal said.

He noted that government, on the other hand, has been working to address non-tariff barriers so the country can benefit more from intra-ASEAN trade.

Even as the government is still looking to adopt a national game plan for AEC, Cristobal said the country is prepared for the region’s economic integration.

“The Philippines is primed and ready for the integration of economies among the 10-member states of the ASEAN by 2015,” he said.

“What does AEC mean to the Philippines? It means vast opportunities for growth and intra-ASEAN investments, dynamic competition as well as complementation,” he added.