What is the TRTA all about? In general, this is a programme that aims to assist the Philippine authorities to enhance conditions for international trade and investment, and improve the access of Philippine exports to the EU market. It will assist the Department of Trade and Industry, the Department of Agriculture and the Bureau of Customs, to enable compliance with EU product standards and sanitary and phytosanitary requirements, promote trade facilitation and customs reform, and build local capacity to address difficulties in understanding, implementing and enforcing WTO Agreements.
In this context, the EC will be funding the procurement of hardware and software, laboratory and other vital equipment, as well as provide technical assistance in the form of seminars, studies, proficiency testing and other valuable training to the aforementioned agencies and the industry stakeholders, among others.
I need not emphasize the importance of EU-Philippine trade relations. The EU is a key economic partner with South East Asia and it is the biggest market in the world with 450 million consumers. The TRTA will enhance our exports with this very important economic partner.
The TRTA is also a strategic activity in line with the Medium Term Philippine Development Plan 2005-2010. It will contribute to increasing investment and exports, improving product standards, developing SMEs and improving revenue generation, which will, in turn, lead to the over-all objective of poverty reduction and national development.
To the DA, DTI and BOC, I look forward to stronger coordination linkages to facilitate planning, implementation and delivery of results, not just under this programme but with all the work that you do, in order to attain our MTPDP goals. I hope that after this programme, you will be able to ensure the sustainability of what we have learned and achieved.
