ASEAN achieves 8 of 11 priority deliverables: DTI

Despite the Philippine government’s plans to stop receiving aid from the European Union (EU), Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez said the engagement between the two parties should continue, particularly in boosting trade. (Photo: ALBERT ALCAIN/PPD)

MANILA — The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) on Tuesday announced that the Philippines and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has successfully completed eight out of 11 economic priority deliverables.

“There are 11 priority deliverables. Of the 11 priority deliverables, the Philippines together with the whole of ASEAN has been able to successfully, fully achieve eight,” said Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez in a speech read by his Undersecretary Ceferino Rodolfo in a press conference at the International Media Center in Pasay City.

Lopez said that two other economic priority deliverables were “technically achieved” and one is “a work in progress.”

The eight economic priority deliverables are:

1. The Focused and Strategic (FAST) Action Agenda on Investment which aligns with the goals and four pillars of the ASEAN Comprehensive Investment Agreement (ACIA)
2. The maiden voyage of the ASEAN RO-RO that plied the Davao-General Santos-Bitung route
3. The adoption of the ASEAN Seamless Trade Facilitation Indicators (ASTFI) by the ASEAN Economic Ministers (AEM) in September 2017
4. The development of the ASEAN Inclusive Business Framework (AIBF) that to promote Inclusive Business in ASEAN
5. The adoption of the ASEAN Work Programme on Electronic Commerce (AWPEC) 2017-2025 in September 2017
6. The Philippines’ first full and comprehensive Country Visit exercise under the AEC 2025 Monitoring and &Evaluation Framework in the Philippines October 2017
7. The adoption by the ASEAN Leaders of the Action Agenda on Mainstreaming Women’s Economic Empowerment in ASEAN
8. The ASEAN Declaration on Innovation, which will be one of the outcome documents that will be adopted at the 31st ASEAN Summit

Meanwhile, the two economic priority deliverables “technically completed” are:

1. The substantial conclusion of the discussions on the Region-Wide Self-Certification Scheme this year
2. The substantial conclusion of the ASEAN Trade in Services Agreement (ATISA) this year

The 11th economic priority deliverable, which remains a work in progress, is the substantial conclusion of Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP).