The country will launch on Dec. 2 an information portal which can help Philippine exporters determine if their products can utilize free trade agreements (FTAs) and determine how they are taking advantage of these agreements that the country signed into.
The FTA information portal aims to make available and accessible a comprehensive set of FTA or Generalized System of Preferences (GSP)-related resources including copies of the agreements, export guides, utilization data, rules of origin simulator, among others. These are intended to promote higher utilization of trade preferences by Philippine businesses.
The portal is one of the components of the Origin Management System (OMS) for the Promotion of FTAs in the Philippines Project, in partnership with the Korea Institute for Advancement of Technology (KIAT). This is the first project embarked on by the KIAT outside of Korea and is a milestone achievement based on a stronger Philippines-Korea partnership.
The DTI-Export Marketing Bureau serves as the implementing lead for the Philippines side, while the Philippine Exporters Confederation, Inc. is engaged as private sector lead.
Portal developer InterCommerce Network Services Inc. president and chief executive officer Francis Lopez earlier said the OMS project can significantly reduce the processing time for the certificates of origin.
Lopez said the OMS is targeted to be launched or implemented by the third or fourth quarter of 2025.
The launching of the Philippine FTA information portal will be part of the activities of the 2024 National Exporters’ Week which will be held from Dec. 2 to 6 at the Conrad Hotel in Pasay City.
Kang Sung Young and Lee Jang Pyo of Korea Trade Network (KTNET) will demonstrate key features and portal functionalities.
The portal will be launched after the conduct of Usapang Exports session on “Maximizing the Benefits of FTAs between the Philippines and Japan Toward Sustainable Trade”, in partnership with ASEAN-Japan Center.