Around 100 micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) from Laguna, various local governments and national line agencies attended on April 17 the information sessions on the European Union’s enhanced General Scheme of Preferences or the EU GSP+ at the Toyota Conference Center in Santa Rosa, Laguna.
The awareness campaign aims to understand, capitalize and benefit from the schemes offered by various free trade agreements to businesses.
Under the EU GSP+, about two-thirds of Philippine exportable product will be enjoying no tariffs imposed (zero percent tariff) from the European Union starting this 2015.
“This would spell bright prospects for the Philippines and the Calabarzon Region as well, since under the scheme, our MSMEs will be able to export virtually everything, except prohibited products, with no tariffs to be imposed,” said Regional Director Marilou Quinco-Toledo of Department of Trade and Industry – Calabarzon.
Toledo added that the Philippines is the only country in Southeast Asia that is qualified with the EU GSP+ scheme.
According to Cris John Garcia, one of the resource speakers of the event, among the notable Philippine products that would benefit the schemes are coconut and marine products, processed fruit, prepared food, animal and vegetable fats and oils, textiles, garments, headwear, footwear, furniture, umbrellas and chemicals.
The EU GSP+ information sessions are facilitated by the Export Marketing Bureau under DTI Laguna’s Small and Medium Enterprises Roving Academy (SMERA) Program.
Posted By: Edrillan Pasion
