Held on 4-5 July 2019, Makati City, the Philippines
As part of EU-ARISE Plus support of the development of the ASEAN Trade Repository (ATR) as a key element for the successful implementation of the ASEAN Trade in Goods Agreement (ATIGA), a national workshop on enhancing trade regulatory transparency was held on 4-5 July 2019 in Makati City, the Philippines. In particular, the workshop aimed at equipping 102 participants from 46 trade regulatory government agencies (TRGAs) of the Philippines on how to identify, classify and package non-tariff measures (NTMs) for upload onto the ATR. The workshop also proved the importance for relevant trade partners (e.g., EU-ARISE, World Bank, ERIA/UNCTAD) to work together with TRGAs in verifying the NTMs to be uploaded onto the ATR, in order to ensure that they are valid and correctly classified.
Director Luis CATIBAYAN of the Trade Departments Bureau of Import Services (BIS) welcomed the participants to the aforesaid event. This was followed by a set of Opening Remarks delivered by Mr. Paul MANDL, Team Leader of ARISE Plus, and an inspiring Keynote Address given by Mr. Maurizio CELLINI, Head of Trade Section, EU Delegation to the Philippines. The workshop was facilitated by Mr. Paolo R. VERGANO, EU-ARISE Trade Facilitation Expert, who also presented on the relevant ATIGA commitments concerning the establishment of ATR as an important tool to enhance trade regulatory transparency in the ASEAN region, and Ms. Maria Esperanza F. ALCONCEL, who will be helping TRGAs in the actual work. The World Bank, which is helping the Filipino Government to streamline its trade regulatory requirements and procedures, also attended the workshop.
Letter of Appreciation to ARISE Plus from Director Luis M. Catibayan can be viewed here: Letter of Appreciation to ARISE Plus
