SIEM REAP, 17 September 2022 – A Business Guidebook to Increasing Trade Competitiveness Using the ASEAN-Hong Kong, China Free Trade Agreement (AHKFTA) was officially launched today at the sidelines of the 6th ASEAN Economic Ministers-Hong Kong, China Consultation. The development of the guidebook is an initiative by the AHKFTA Joint Committee and the ASEAN Secretariat to promote AHKFTA among stakeholders especially the business communities in ASEAN and Hong Kong, China.
In his opening remarks, Deputy Secretary-General of ASEAN for ASEAN Economic Community Satvinder Singh welcomed the launch of the guidebook which will help stakeholders, particularly enterprises operating in ASEAN and Hong Kong to navigate the AHKFTA. He highlighted that “the first crucial factor in reaping the benefits offered under the AHKFTA lies in businesses’ deep understanding and technical know-how on how to leverage them. Lack of business awareness on tangible benefits of FTAs remains the top hindrance in utilising FTAs.”
Algernon Yau, the Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development of Hong Kong, China commended the ASEAN Secretariat for developing the business guidebook which is a useful tool for business community to help expand their business through the utilisation of the AHKFTA.
The business buidebook is an initiative under the aegis of the Economic and Technical Co-operation (ECOTECH) Work Programme, a feature of the AHKFTA that facilitates parties to enhance and promote the implementation of the Agreement through capacity building and technical assistance activities.
Funded by the AHKFTA Economic and Technical Cooperation Work Programme Fund, the guidebook was developed to provide a snapshot of the AHKFTA, including illustrations on the application of relevant rules and procedures. It highlights salient provisions in the AHKFTA and the benefits and trade and investment opportunities that the business community can tap from it. Further, it provides step-by-step guide to claiming preferential tariffs under AHKFTA, accompanied by the applicable rules and qualification procedures.
The guidebook can be downloaded from here.
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