The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the Board of Investments (BOI) conducted a forum titled “Industry Roadmaps and the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) Game Plan: Regional Roadmaps for Competitiveness” in Cebu (2 December 2014) yesterday to prepare the provinces for the ASEAN regional integration.
DTI Regional Operations Group Undersecretary Zenaida C. Maglaya delivered the keynote address during the forum. “Our objective in these series of briefings is to encourage stakeholders to become aware of the opportunities and challenges of regional integration,” she said.
“Local enterprises have to step up and participate in the regional and global value chains. We all need to work together to gain a sound understanding of the impact of global policy reforms in industrial development and to ensure that rural communities, particular MSMEs, benefit from ASEAN integration.” Maglaya added.
The forum in Cebu gathered some 250 stakeholders from the private sector, government, and the academe. The activity aimed to inform stakeholders of benefits and challenges of the ASEAN integration with emphasis on the importance of developing industry roadmaps in the regions.
DTI Assistant Secretary for Industry Development Rafaelita Aldaba discussed measures and government initiatives to manufacturing at the local and national levels vis-à-vis AEC competitiveness and collaboration. She highlighted the need for a cluster-based industrial policy to transform and upgrade regional industries. “To build competitive regional economies, the DTI is encouraging stakeholders and relevant agencies to formulate their own roadmaps that are aligned and strongly linked with the national industry roadmaps,” she said.
Other speakers include Dr. Ramon Clarete, Senior Adviser, USAID – Trade-Related Assistance for Development Project, who spoke about the AEC 2015 and the National Development Agenda; Dr. Roehlano Briones, Senior Research Fellow, Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS), who delivered the Strategy for the Agribusiness Industry; Ms. Florence Sevilla, Senior Agribusiness Specialist, Center for Food and Agribusiness, who talked about the rapid industry appraisal for seaweed; and OIC-Assistant Regional Director Dionisio C. Ledres of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Region VII, Agribusiness Specialist Ditas Macabasco of the Center for Food and Agribusiness, and Chamber of Furniture Industries of the Philippines President Nicoolas de Lange.
DTI Region VII Regional Director Asteria C. Caberte welcomed participants to the forum. “A business community that is well-placed to take advantage of the opportunities in the region has so much to look forward to. I encourage you to continue to work with us in our common goal to increase trade flows, create jobs, and boost economic growth in the region. This briefing is the government’s concrete commitment to support the local business community,” she said.
DTI will also conduct the forum “Industry Roadmaps and the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) Game Plan: Regional Roadmaps for Competitiveness” in Davao city on 4 December.
To participate in the Davao forum, contact Vedastito Galvez / Mr. Julz Loquinario at telephone : 082-224-0511, (m) 0908-867-0518 or email r11@dti.gov.ph