PHILIPPINE micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) can improve access to more foreign markets particularly Asia-Pacific economies using a new web portal that provides timely and accurate information on export and import procedures and requirements.
Designed to make cross-border trade easier, cheaper and faster, the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Trade Repository (APECTR) contains relevant information for cross-border trade.
These include most favored nation tariffs, preferential tariff rates, rules of origin, best practices in trade facilitation, other trade measures, domestic trade and customs laws and regulations, procedural and documentary requirements, and the information on authorized economic operators.
"I think that website would be very good in guiding us where we can export," said Mama Sita president Clarita Reyes-Lapus after the launch of the APECTR on the sidelines of the recent APEC economic leaders' week.
Mama Sita's food products enjoy strong domestic and overseas demand in the Philippines, Singapore, Japan, Hong Kong, Australia, Middle East, the United States, Canada, Europe and Pakistan.
"Sometimes, to register a product that is fit to be imported, it's like a maze. So maybe with these rules in the website, it will not be so difficult for us to convince the importer that our products are fit for importation in their country," Reyes-Lapus added.
Trade Assistant Secretary Ceferino Rodolfo noted that introducing information in a website makes it more accessible to Philippine MSMEs.
"We have seen that transparency not only makes sense, not only makes good sense for governance purposes but also makes good business sense, particularly for MSMEs," he said.
Rodolfo said Philippine trade with all the Apec economies account for about 85 percent of the country's total trade. (PR)