PCCI to adopt a global outlook

The Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) will adopt a more global outlook next year and participate more closely with the government in negotiating trade agreements, its president Donald Dee said

In a yearend briefing, Dee admitted that the PCCI has not been giving enough attention to globalization.

"Globalization is here, and it is here to stay," Dee acknowledged. Thus, for 2006, the PCCI is adjusting its focus.

Dee said the PCCI is already taking a more active role in helping government formulate its stance in various trade nego-tiations, starting with the ongoing World Trade Organization (WTO) talks in Hong Kong.

He said the PCCI is likewise urging the government to address the concerns of the agriculture sector squarely. These concerns are increased market access and removal of export and domestic subsidies.

Dee warned that if export and domestic subsidies are not eliminated, developing countries will not be able to play a significant role in the global market.

The PCCI, is also embarking on a program called U-ACT - which stands for Universal Access for Competitiveness in Trade – wherein the private sector would assist the government in establishing a database and in data gathering of trade statistics, Dee said.

In fact, early next year, PCCI members will visit some of the country’s major trade partners - China, India and Korea – to observe their processes, he said.

The PCCI is also set to take a more active role in trade dialogues with its ASEAN neighbors. The PCCI is set to assume the chairmanship of the ASEAN Business Advisory Council in February next year and will also host in Cebu in Dec. 2006 an ASEAN Leaders’ Meeting.