DTI presses ahead with Asean 2015 info drive

The Department of Trade and Industry continues to aggressively mount campaigns that will enable local businesses, particularly the small and medium enterprises (SMEs), to take advantage of the significant opportunities presented by the establishment of the Asean Economic Community by 2015.

“We are intensifying our education campaign on the AEC through larger fora four times every month starting on the first quarter of 2014,” disclosed Trade Assistant Secretary Ceferino S. Rodolfo.

Rodolfo made the announcement during the two-day AEC conference, which concluded Friday. The forum was meant to clarify key concepts on the AEC and its implementation status, synchronize government agencies’ key messages on the AEC, and consolidate key AEC issues raised by stakeholders to government agencies.

The AEC is envisioned as a single market and distribution base in a highly competitive Southeast Asian region, with an equitable economic development that will be fully integrated into the global economy. Simply put, the integration allows companies in 10 Asean member-nations, including the Philippines, to enter each other’s markets, encouraged by zero tariffs and reduced bureaucratic hurdles.

For local industries, the AEC will mean bigger opportunities to tap in and expand into new markets. But it will also mean stiffer competition from the expected “tsunami” of foreign goods, services and manpower entering the Philippine market.

According to Rodolfo, the DTI will conduct starting next year various fora by region, by sectors and by issues.  In addition, a round table discussion, and a big forum for the public will also be organized. Amy R. Remo