PHL gains eight places to 64th in WEF Enabling Trade index

The World Economic Forum on Wednesday said the Philippines gained eight notches to 64 from 72 in terms of its overall ranking in the WEF Enabling Trade index in the two years to 2014. 

Among the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) member in the index, the Philippines was fifth on the heels of first placer Singapore, while Malaysia ranked 25th, Thailand 57th, and Indonesia 58th.

The WEF Global Enabling Trade Report 2014 covered 138 economies and delved into the extent institutions, policies, infrastructure and services placed to ease the flow of goods over borders to the final destination.

The other Asian countries in the report were Vietnam in 72nd place, Cambodia in 93rd spot, with Lao DPR ranked 98th and Myanmar 121st.

The countries are ranked on so called seven pillars that include domestic market access, foreign market access, efficiency and transparency of border administration, availability and quality of transport infrastructure, availability and quality of transport services, availability and use of information and communication technologies (ICT), and operating environment.

In terms of domestic market access the Philippines placed 19th, and 26th in terms of foreign market access.

The Philippines is most vulnerable – placing 96th  –  for lack of adequate transport infrastructure.

It occupied the 71st place in border administration, and 82nd spot the reflected corruption and red tape in terms of the operating environment.

For availability and quality of transport services, the Philippines ranked 84th  and placed 85th in terms of  availability and use of ICTs.

"Among the 56 indicators comprising the enabling trade index, the Philippines enjoys competitive advantages in the following 15 areas: specific tariffs, tariffs faced, cost to export, cost to import, tariff
dispersion, ease and affordability of shipment, available international airline seats in kilometers per week, customs services index, access to finance, share of duty-free imports, number of distinct tariffs, efficiency of clearance process, tariff rate, number of days to import, and ICT use for business to business transactions," Makati Business Club (MBC) executive director Peter Perfecto said in a statement.

The WEF, however, said the most problematic areas when in come to exporting in the Philippines are high cost or delays caused by domestic transportation; access to imported inputs at competitive prices; technical requirements and standards abroad; identifying potential markets and buyers; and difficulties in meeting quality/quantity requirements of buyers.

It noted the problem areas when it comes to importing in the Philippines include burdensome import procedures; corruption at the border; tariffs; high cost or delays caused by domestic transportation; and high cost or delays caused by international transportation.

The top three countries based on the Enabling Trade Index were Singapore,  Hong Kong and   Netherlands. – VS, GMA News