Wednesday, April 04, 2007 Exporters get easy access in Apec
TWO years after it was first introduced in the Philippines, the exporters’ business travel card is now available, the Confederation of Philippine Exporters’ (Philexport) One Stop Export Documentation Center (OSEDC) said.
“It’s now in full swing,” Fred Escalona, Philexport-Cebu executive officer, said yesterday.
While the Apec Business Travel Card (ABTC) was limited to only 50 members during its initial run, the proponents of the project, which include the Makati Business Club, Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) and Philexport, have decided to officially launch it after it gained favorable response from the business sector, he said.
According to the Philex-port-Cebu website, the card aims to promote and facilitate business and investment within the region, as well as help reduce the time and cost of securing visa and entry requirements to Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) member economies.
“The cards will provide businessmen in Apec countries priority and a substantial reduction in the hassle (of securing visas),” Escalona added.
Accredited
Currently, it gives accredited businessmen pre-cleared status to participating countries like Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Chile, Hong Kong SAR, Indonesia, Japan, Republic of Korea, Malaysia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, People’s Republic of China, Peru, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Taiwan and Vietnam.
Dianne Masalunga, OSEDC manager, in a letter to PhilExport-Cebu members stated that card holders of ABTC will enjoy multiple entry to participating economies, faster immigration processing on arrival via access to fast track entry and exit through special APEC lanes at major ports, as well as expedite visa interview scheduling at US Embassies and Consulates in APEC economies.
Good standing
However, she said only Philexport members of “good standing” can avail themselves of the privilege.
The ABTC, which is issued only to qualified businessmen, works like a visa with validity of three years or upon the expiry date of the holder’s passport.
The application, together with its supporting documents, may be filed either with PCCI or Philexport. If the application and its supporting documents are found in order, it will be endorsed by the sponsoring business organizations to ABTC-Philippines (Visa Division-Department of Foreign Affairs).
Philexport-Cebu has short listed the qualifications for applicants.
They should be Filipino citizens with a business travel frequency of at least three times a year within APEC countries at the time of the application, must not have a conviction in a criminal offense and must not be included in the Department of Trade and Industry watch list.
He believes the ABTC is one way to alleviate the problems faced by the country’s export industry, which is currently struggling against the strengthening of the peso against the US dollar, and the stiff competition in the global export market. (MMM)
