SIPPO conducts EFTA market study for export products of the Philippines
A market study on three export products of the Philippines (Processed Food, Natural Ingredients and Natural Fiber&Textiles) aims at strengthening the Philippine trade with the European Free Trade Association (EFTA). The study is carried out in close cooperation between SIPPO, the Export Marketing Bureau of the Department of Trade and Industry of the Republic of the Philippines (DTI-EMB) and the Embassy of Switzerland in the Philippines. It is expected to be disseminated in the Philippines by December 2020.
The final goal of the study is to determine the selling and growth potential in the European market in order to help Filipino producers of processed food, natural ingredients and natural fibers for textiles to maximize the impact of the free trade agreement between the Philippines and EFTA. The study analyses EFTA markets’ trade regulations, market access requirements and market demands. It will also acquire information on potential importers.
Swisscontact as SIPPO’s implementing organisation, the Export Marketing Bureau of the Department of Trade and Industry of the Republic of the Philippines and the Embassy of Switzerland signed a Tripartite Memorandum to implement the project on 15 September 2020. The project is an example of the close economic cooperation between the Philippines and Switzerland, which has been intensified over the years. Since 1 June 2018, the EFTA-Philippines Free Trade Agreement provides preferential treatment for trade in goods and services. More information on https://www.dti.gov.ph/negosyo/exports/emb-news/efta-market-study-aims-to-increase-trade-with-philippines/ and https://www.eda.admin.ch/countries/philippines/en/home/news/news.html/content/countries/philippines/en/meta/news/2020/september/efta-study-looks-to-maximize-philippine-exports
The announcement of the joint study of DTI-EMB, SIPPO and the Swiss Embassy was taken up by several media in the Philippines: The Manila Times: https://www.manilatimes.net/2020/09/16/business/business-top/efta-study-aims-to-increase-trade-with-philippines/768478/, Daily Guardian: https://dailyguardian.com.ph/efta-market-study-aims-to-increase-trade-with-phl/, Business Mirror: https://businessmirror.com.ph/2020/09/16/dti-to-boost-trade-activities-with-efta-particularly-switzerland/ and the Philippine News Agency: https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1115524