EU trade assistance program to be extended

After its four-year implementation in the Philippines, the P420-million Trade Related Technical Assistance Program 2 (TRTA2) of the European Union (EU) will be have a follow up program to be launched within the year.

TRTA ended successfully with achievements in the areas of trade policy and export development, standards conformity, food safety conformity and trade facilitation.

In a culmination program on Wednesday held at the Intercontinental Manila in Makati City, the EU proudly announced the success of TRTA2 that aims to support sustainable poverty reduction in the country through further integration into the international trade system.

The EU said that the project’s specific purpose is to enhance the capacity of selected government agencies and state actors for deeper integration into the system.

One the key achievement of TRTA2 is the plan to double up exports under the Philippine Export Development Plan (PEDP) 2011-2013. The plan is organized along the country’s international trade strategy that sees the doubling of its export by 2016.

Moreover, TRTA2 also takes part in the setting up of the National Single Window (NSW) , a system that reduce the clearance time for export and import. NSW is a single entry facility that automates regulatory tasks attendant upon clearing and issuance permits and other authorizations needed ahead of transaction.

TRTA2 also paved the way to the adoption of international electronics standards to better tap export markets. As of now, 230 international standards in the field of electronics were adopted as Philippine standards.

Food, tourism
The project also supported the establishment of the food safety control system across supply chain over which food exports are regulated through compliance of farms and processing plants to the good practices principle and market accreditation. TRTA2 also gave expert assistance in drafting the Food Safety Act, which has been submitted to the Department of Agriculture and the House of Representatives.

On the other hand, the project also supported the training and mentoring of medical laboratories to international standard, which was used as a gateway to diversify tourism receipts and increase international market confidence and to boost the Philippine efforts to become a top medical tourism destination.

Meanwhile, the EU also said that it remains open to Philippine fishery exports as the TRTA2 also strengthened the food safety and inspection system of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, which eventually helped the country’s fishery products to pass the EU inspection. This ensures continues fish exports to the EU market of 500 million consumers. At present, from about a dozen accredited establishments five years ago, this grew to 48 presently.

“We are very proud that we could work with different government agencies and with DTI [Department of Trade and Industry] on export strategy, which not only supporting growth but also poverty alleviation agenda based on the PDP [Philippine Development Plan],” said Hans Farnhammer, operations chief of the EU delegation in the Philippines.

Furthermore, the EU delegate announced that with the success of TRTA2, the follow-up project will be launched later this year. He said that the TRTA3 will be implemented by the DTI and will also go over a four-year period with a budget of 8.9 million euros.

“The EU is the largest supporter when it comes to aid for trade globally and also in the Philippines we are here in six years and we will continue to work with you in the future with our mixed projects already lined up,” Hans added. –MAYVELIN U. CARABALLO REPORTER, Businessmirror