THIS MONTH'S HIGHLIGHTS

EDC Vision and Mission Revised
Travel Tax Exemption Still Available for Exporters
9th Philippine Food Expo 2010 Showcases Best Pinoy 
       Home-Grown Products
PGMA Graces Manila Now Furniture Show 
National Single Window (NSW) to Facilitate Import/Export Licenses,
        Permits and Clearances

EDC Vision and Mission Revised

 

The Export Development Council (EDC), presided by its Chair and newly appointed Secretary of the Department of Trade and Industry, Sec. Jesli A. Lapus, unanimously approved and adopted the Revised EDC Vision and Mission in its meeting last 19 March 2010 – a landmark resolution to improve and strengthen the thrusts of the institution.

Following is the revised EDC Vision and Mission:

Vision: The Philippines shall be a globally competitive nation.

Mission: The Export Development Council as a Public-Private Partnership shall:

• Continually evolve and propose policies and necessary legislative actions that ensure the effective and efficient implementation of export development plans, strategies and programs under the Philippine Export Development Plan (PEDP);

• Create an environment that facilitates innovations and improvements in Philippine export products and services to make them globally competitive;

• Measure, monitor, evaluate and report the progress of export development policies, plans, strategies and programs; and

• Champion all national efforts for export development.

The Council deemed it necessary to highlight the country’s competitiveness not only in exports but in all aspects. To carry this out, innovations and improvements in export products and services must be supported.

The proposal to amend the EDC Vision and Mission was initiated during the EDC Strategic Workshop held at Holiday Inn, Clark Pampanga last 05-06 February 2010.

Travel Tax Exemption Still Available for Exporters

 

The EDC calls on all exporters to avail of the travel tax exemption when participating in trade fair, selling mission, international conferences and seminars on trade. This incentive is provided by Executive Order 589.

Exporters may apply with the BETP, BITR, CITEM, PHILEXPORT or the nearest provincial offices of the DTI at least two (2) working days before the expected date of travel. The application form may be downloaded from http://edc.net.ph/downloads/TTEform.pdf.

For further information, please contact the EDC secretariat at telephone no. 897-7608 or telefax 890-4645.

9th Philippine Food Expo 2010 Showcases Best Pinoy Home-Grown Products

 

With the theme Building a Global Market through Quality Philippine Food Products, the Philippine Food Processors and Exporters Organization (PHILFOODEX) Inc., staged the 9th Philippine Food Expo at SM Megatrade Halls of SM Megamall, Mandaluyong City on 25-28 February 2010. About 100 member-delegation of buyers from China, Hong Kong, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Singapore, Middle East and USA graced the four-day event which raked in $2.6 Million sales.

Top selling products were dried mango, frozen mango, nata de coco, salted bangus, and banana chips. Seminars and cooking demos were held as complimentary activities in the event.

The food expo was held with the support of the Export Support Fund (ESF) of the Export Development Council (EDC), through the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), and other partners from private and media organizations.

PGMA Graces Manila Now Furniture Show

 

Her Excellency, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo led the formal opening of the Manila Now Philippine International Furniture Show (PIFS) held last 3-7 March 2010 at SMX Convention Center, Pasay City.

The show is dubbed as the Milan of Asia for being the must-see furniture show in the ASEAN furniture circuit, As the biggest furniture and home furnishings exhibition in the Philippines, the international event has gathered together the world-class furniture designers and makers of the country from Pampanga and Cebu City. It has showcased innovative and quality furniture pieces for bedroom, lounge, dining, outdoor, and occasional furniture and furnishings.

It was held in cooperation with the Philippine Institute of Interior Designers and with support from the Export Support Fund of the Export Development Council.

 

National Single Window (NSW) to Facilitate Import/Export Licenses, Permits and Clearances

 

The Bureau of Customs launched the Philippines National Single Window (NSW) last 16 March 2010. Ten (10) government agencies initially linked electronically for the NSW. . These are the:Bureau of Customs (BOC), Board of Investment (BOI), Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI), Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI), Bureau of Product Standards (BPS), Food and Drug Administration (FDA), National Food Authority (NFA), Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA), and Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA).

The NSW is an electronic system that will allow single submission and accelerated processing of applications for licenses, permits and other authorizations required prior to import or export. Stakeholders can look forward to rationalized, simplified, and harmonized processing of requirements for licenses, permits, and clearances; convenience of payment thru Mobile Payment enabling them to transact business in the comfort of their offices or homes. Daily updates via Email and SMS notifications from the NSW will keep them informed of the status of their transactions.

The web will be the primary medium of doing business with the abovementioned government agencies.

Crown Agent Consulting (CA), the implementing agency for the NSW project said NSW for imports will be completed by June 2010, with the target of 40 government clearing agencies linked to BOC. NSW for exports will start by the second half of 2010.