Seminar On Free Trade Agreements Set In Zamboanga City

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Nov. 12, 2010) - The Department of Trade and Industry in cooperation with the Bureau of Customs the Tariff Commission, the Export Development Council, Philexport, and the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry will conduct next week a seminar on the Free Trade Agreements in Zamboanga City in Mindanao.

Dubbed as “Doing Business in Free Trade Areas”, the seminar, set on November 19, is part of the nationwide information campaign aimed at increasing awareness as well as foster appreciation of the benefits of the FTAs.

Trade regional director Nazrullah Manzur disclosed that while the Philippines is already implementing a number of FTAs, it has been observed that many local businessmen have not been able to take full advantage of them. This seminar is therefore, designed to help address this gap.

The seminar, Manzur said, will cover discussions on market opportunities, particularly on products with zero or reduced tariffs under existing free trade agreements as well as the procedures for their availment.

He said there will also be a sharing session for businessmen who have successfully utilized the free trade agreements to their advantage.

“We thus, encourage our businessmen here in Region 9 to attend this seminar so they too can avail the same opportunities and benefits as a result of these FTAs”, Manzur said in a statement.

“There will be no registration fee but accommodation will be on a first come, first served basis”, he added. (With a report from Jung Francisco)