TRADE and Industry Secretary Gregory L. Domingo is scheduled to visit Cebu on Feb. 19 to deliver an overview of a critical trade agreement that will affect all Southeast Asian nations next year.The trade agreement seeks to create free movement of goods, services, manpower and investments among member-governments of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean), which includes the Philippines.
The terms of this envisioned Asean Economic Community (AEC) will be the subject of Domingo’s keynote address during an economic forum organized by the Sun.Star Media Group and SyCip Gorres Velayo & Co. (SGV & Co.) in the Marco Polo Plaza Cebu. he Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has already initiated information drives to inform the public of the AEC’s implementation in 2015. The drive is spearheaded by Ceferino S. Rodolfo, DTI assistant secretary for international trade, who will also be present at the economic forum.
Rodolfo, along with Dr. Josef T. Yap, former president of the Philippine Institute for Developmental Studies, will be on hand to discuss the potential opportunities and threats to specific industries that the AEC might bring to the country.
Local industry leaders will be on hand to react to the speakers and encourage discussion of key points of the AEC agreement. The event will be opened by Sun.Star Chairman Jesus B. Garcia Jr. and SGV Chairman Cirilo P. Noel.
Manuel Pages of Pages Holdings will serve as master of ceremonies. Tickets for economic forum are available at the Sun.Star offices on P. del Rosario St., Cebu City, as well as from the SGV offices at the 10th floor of the Insular Life building, Cebu Business Park, Cebu City. Limited tickets for walk-in participants will also be available at the event. (ARJ)
