Page 6 - Hello Philippines February 2016 'B' issue

6 www.hello-philippines.com BUSINESS & FINANCE February 2016 / Fortnightly – No. 4 • UK & Europe Edition

BOI to further pursue
Industry Roadmapping
MANILA - Officials of the Board
of Investments (BOI), the industry approach in implementing the Industry themselves with the guidance of BOI industries in the area as core topics in • Enhancing the Competitiveness of
development and investments Development Program (IDP), including and other government agencies. Philippine Coffee Project;
promotion arm of the Department of its partnership with various sectors the regional conference.
Trade and Industry (DTI), will continue through its Industry Roadmapping For the first quarter of 2016, • FabLab Activities in Bohol;
sustaining last year’s interventions aimed Project. two regional conferences on the The Leyte localization meanwhile • Support Program for the
at elevating the development and growth localization of industry roadmaps are National Industry Cluster for Tourism
of the local industries as competitive An Industry Roadmap details a initially scheduled to be conducted in which is set on March 10, 2016 will have Support Industries such as wearables,
players in the global market. sector’s current situationer and outlines Ilocos and Leyte. homestyle and processed foods.
the various interventions it needs to be copper and among other dominant This year, the budget increased to
BOI aims to pursue the integrated globally-competitive. The roadmaps The Ilocos localization will happen P289 billion with a specific allocation
are crafted by the local industries on March 4, 2016 with processed meat sectors as center of the discussions. of P110.75 million for DTI to fund
and fruits, cacao, and coffee as thriving projects including the transformation
The industry roadmaps also of the Cottage Industry Technology
Center into a super Shared Services
serve as basis for effecting policies Facility; the establishment of
FabLabs/Innovation Centers; and the
and implementing programs that implementation of the CARS Program.
To date, there are already 40
support the development and growth sectoral roadmaps submitted to the
BOI. Of these, 32 roadmaps have been
PHL eyes trade with EFTA countries 2 years after FTA implementation of industries, including government completed and are currently being
implemented or for implementation,
funding to support its key initiatives. while the rest are still subject to
enhancement/finalization.
MANILA - A free trade agreement In 2015, the government allocated The BOI also went around the
country last year to encourage
(FTA) between the Philippines and P239 billion to implement agency- localization of roadmaps in the regions,
especially those industries that are
European Free Trade Association (EFTA) wide programs and projects of dominant or thriving in the area and
its alignment and linkage with the
is still on target for conclusion before manufacturing-related industry national industry roadmaps. n InterAksyon.

the term of the Aquino administration roadmaps under the Manufacturing com / February 10, 2016 / 1:26 pm

ends. Resurgence Program.

Department of Trade and Industry A budget of P89.5 million was

(DTI) Secretary Adrian S. Cristobal Jr. allocated for the implementation of the

said in a briefing on Friday that the negotiations will take place in April. with EFTA as the economic bloc only IDP. Some of the programs and projects

Philippines and EFTA now only need to “We still target to conclude the FTA in accounts for 1.0 percent of the country’s implemented include:

discuss a few refinements on details for first semester (of 2016),” the official said. total trade. • Comprehensive Automotive

the trade agreement. Among the interests of the Philippines With the Philippines-EFTA FTA, Resurgence Program (CARS);

He said the Philippines and EFTA in EFTA are investments, particularly the country eyes to double trade with • Die and Mould Training Program;

countries recently concluded the fifth technology and knowledge transfer, as the other party two years after the • Localization and implementation

round of formal negotiations last week. well as its market with high per capita implementation of the trade deal. of the Rubber Roadmap;

“Between now and April, we will gross domestic product where premium EFTA states are Iceland, Norway, • Study on the Impact of the ASEAN

continue our intercessional discussions,” Philippine goods can be exported. Switzerland, and Liechtenstein. n Kris M. Economic Integration and other Free

he said, adding that the sixth round of The country sees big trade potentials Crismundo / PNA / February 12, 2016 / 4:53 pm Trade Agreements on Philippine

Manufacturing;