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Pacific Alliance and Singapore sign Free Trade Agreement

Posted on by alianza.del.pacifico
11
Jan
  • The Asian country is about to become the first Associated State of the integration bloc.

January 26, 2022 – In the framework of the XVI Summit of Presidents of the Pacific Alliance, the Trade ministers of Chile, Colombia, Mexico and Peru, on the one hand, and that of Singapore, on the other, signed the Free Trade Agreement, whose negotiations ended in July 2021.

This instrument must now comply with the procedures before the legislative bodies of each of the countries, and in the case of Colombia, it must subsequently pass to the endorsement of the Constitutional Court.

The Agreement includes 25 chapters in disciplines such as: market access for goods, sanitary and phytosanitary measures, rules of origin, technical barriers to trade, economic and customs cooperation, trade facilitation, investment, e-commerce, cross-border trade in services, maritime services, telecommunications, temporary entry of business persons, state-owned enterprises, public procurement, competition policy, good regulatory practices, gender, SMEs and legal and institutional matters.

The signing of this Agreement marks a milestone for this integration initiative because Singapore will become the first Associated State of the Pacific Alliance.

The negotiations with the Asian economy complement the trade relationship, encourage the attraction of investments, facilitate government procurement contracts and enhance the access of service providers to a wide range of sectors.

It also opens the door to cooperation in various areas such as energy, food trade, the digital economy, infrastructure and urban solutions, port management and logistics, and the interoperability of Foreign Trade Single Windows.

Reaching the Singapore market through this trade agreement will allow the countries of the Alliance to use regional inputs from different countries enhancing regional production chains. It is expected to attract investors from that country to the extended market of the bloc as a productive and export platform to the region.

The Pacific Alliance is made up of Chile, Colombia, Mexico and Peru. It has a population of 230 million, a per capita gross domestic product (GDP) of USD 19,000 and exports of USD 627 billion. This makes the group the eighth largest exporter in the world. The Asian country became an Observer State of the Pacific Alliance in 2014 and a candidate for Associate State in 2017. Negotiations for a Trade Agreement were finalized in July 2021, after four years of deliberations.

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PACIFIC ALLIANCE AND SINGAPORE CONCLUDE NEGOTIATIONS FOR THE FREE TRADE AGREEMENT (PASFTA)

Posted on by Angélica Alfaro
21
Jul

AP/ 21st of July of 2021. The Pacific Alliance (PA) and Singapore have concluded negotiations of the Pacific Alliance-Singapore Free Trade Agreement (PASFTA). This was welcomed by the Ministers of Trade of Colombia Ms. Maria Ximena Lombana, of Peru Ms. Claudia Cornejo, of Mexico Ms. Tatiana Clouthier and Mr. Andres Allamand the Minister of Foreign Relations of Chile as members of the PA and Mr. Gan Kim Yong Minister for Trade and Industry of Singapore via a videoconference on July 21st.

Maria Ximena Lombana, Minister of Trade, Industry and Tourism for Colombia, in her capacity of Pro Tempore President of the PA announced the closing of negotiations of the PASFTA and highlighted the strengthen of our commercial partnership ties with Singapore.

“This FTA marked a milestone for the PA as the biggest step in our integration with the Asia Pacific Region which allow us to grant Singapore the status as the first Associated State to the PA. In 2017, the Pacific Alliance launched negotiations with Singapore, Australia, New Zealand and Canada, which are Candidates to be Associated States to develop instruments for economic and commercial integration, stressing our commitment to effectively insert ourselves in the Asia Pacific Region.”

“With this new Agreement between Singapore and the Pacific Alliance we are fulfilling this vision path improving the commercial relationship, attracting investments, expanding market access of goods, and boosting access for service suppliers in a wide range of sectors. Reaching Singapore’s market allows using regional inputs from different countries enhancing productive regional chains. We expect to attract Singaporean investors to the Pacific Alliance’s extended market as a productive and export platform to the region.”

“The Alliance perceives that being an Associated State is as mechanism that promotes free trade agreements and provides windows of opportunities for cooperation. This instrument will enable to explore areas for collaboration on technology and digital economy that may include the linking of SG’s national Single Window with the PA’s, port management and logistics, infrastructure and urban solutions, energy collaboration and food trade. Additionally, Singapore suggested the Digital Economy Partnership Agreement (DEPA) as other initiative which we may explore with the PA states, recognizing that it may bring tangible benefits for all the countries involved.”

“The Pacific Alliance is in alignment with Singapore’s idea on free trade agreements, which will bring growth and ensure long-term sustainable economic development, and will also boost our commercial and economic relationship.”

Mr. Gan Kim Yong, Minister for Trade and Industry for Singapore said that, “Singapore is honoured to be joining the Pacific Alliance in announcing the conclusion of the Pacific Alliance-Singapore Free Trade Agreement. The PASFTA establishes a modern, comprehensive, high-quality, and mutually beneficial economic partnership that builds on existing agreements between the Pacific Alliance and Singapore. This agreement complements Singapore’s existing bilateral and plurilateral links with each Pacific Alliance country, including the Trans-Pacific Strategic Economic Partnership Agreement, Peru-Singapore FTA, and, the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership. It is significant that the PASFTA will be our first FTA with Colombia.”

“The PASFTA represents the shared commitment by the Pacific Alliance and Singapore to persevere with greater economic integration and support the rules based multilateral trading system. It sends a powerful message to the global community that our countries remain open for business, and despite the pressures placed on economic multilateralism, we want to reach out to one another and create more opportunities for our people. We want to build on this foundation, grow our links even more, and generate opportunities for our people and businesses.”

“We agree with the Pacific Alliance that the Associated Status provides a platform for collaboration in various areas such as energy collaboration, food trade, digital economy, infrastructure and urban solutions, port management and logistics, and the linking of National Single Windows.”

The Pacific Alliance comprises of Chile, Colombia, Mexico and Peru. Collectively, it has a combined population of 230 million, a per capita GDP of 19 thousand US dollars and exports that reach 627 US billion dollars, making the Alliance the 8th largest exporter in the world. In 2019, Singapore’s total trade in goods with the Pacific Alliance was S$6.1 billion, which accounted for 33.2% of our total trade in goods with Latin America.

The PA is also positioned us as the 8th largest economy, attracting 56 million tourists, representing 41% of Latin America and the Caribbean GDP and accounting for 38% of its foreign direct investment. Additionally, both, the World Competitiveness Centre and the Doing Business rank our countries as the most competitive in the region.

Singapore became an Observer State to the Pacific Alliance in 2014, and a Candidate Associated State in 2017. This event complies with mandate from the presidential statement of the PA´s Presidents and the Prime Minister of Singapore at Santiago’s Summit last December.

Singapore and the Pacific Alliance will work towards a formal signing during the Pacific Alliance Summit in December in 2021, in Colombia. Singapore will become the first Associate State of the Pacific Alliance upon signing of the PASFTA. The Pacific Alliance and Singapore look forward to using this platform to catalyse closer people-to-people ties, and further economic cooperation in areas of mutual interest such as infrastructure, digital and innovation, energy, and food trade.

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Pacific Alliance and European Union hold seminar on reactivation of the post-pandemic tourism sector

Posted on by Angélica Alfaro
14
Jul

At the seminar, tourism authorities from the PA and the EU discussed the exit strategies of the containment measures and the public-private work they are developing for the gradual resumption of tourism activity in the old continent.

July 14th, 2020. Today, the seminar “European Union-Pacific Alliance Dialogues: On the road to reactivation of the post-COVID tourism industry” took place, with the participation of the Under-secretaries and government representatives of Tourism of the four countries of the Pacific Alliance -Chile, Colombia, Mexico and Peru-, as well as representatives of the European Commission, the EU Foreign Service and tourism sector authorities from Austria, Spain, Finland and Portugal.

At the opening, which was led by the Undersecretary for International Economic Relations of Chile (Subrei), Rodrigo Yáñez, in his capacity as pro tempore presidency of the PA, he stressed that every effort must be made to quickly and appropriately design a revival for this sector, which is so important for the Pacific Alliance and the European Union. The director for the Americas at the European External Action Service, Javier Niño Perez, said that the European Union is working on strategies to reactivate tourism based on the establishment of rules that give peace of mind and security. Both authorities highlighted concern about the drop in growth in the sector, where the estimated losses of the tourism industry this year for Chile, Colombia, Mexico and Peru are forecast to reach US$15.3 billion.

Subsequently, the representative of the European Commission (DG GROW – Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs), Florencia Cuervo, presented the general EU policy framework in support of the post-pandemic tourism sector.

In turn, the Undersecretaries of Tourism of the Pacific Alliance countries presented the regional and local panorama of the sector’s impact due to the pandemic.

The Seminar then focused its development on the measures that had been adopted in Austria, Spain and Portugal. Experts explained the economic measures established by those countries, as well as biosecurity protocols, digital capacity building and the importance of developing tourism with sustainability.

It should be noted that this activity takes place within the framework of the Joint Declaration signed by the European Union and the Pacific Alliance. A second seminar is expected to be held during the second semester in order to share experiences in the development and implementation of measures to reactivate the sector.

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Pacific Alliance and ASEAN meet to strengthen relations amidst the COVID-19 pandemic

Posted on by Angélica Alfaro
29
Sep

September 29th, 2020. The National Coordinators of the Pacific Alliance (PA), a regional bloc where Chile, Colombia, Mexico and Peru participate, and their counterparts from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), met on September 28th via videoconference, to strengthen relations between the two regional mechanisms.

Both sides had a fruitful exchange of views on a wide range of topics, including their efforts to address the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as the initiatives developed to support economic revival in both regional integration mechanisms.

ASEAN noted that among the actions they have developed in the face of the coronavirus pandemic, is the holding of special meetings within the bloc to coordinate responses and the establishment of an ASEAN Fund for COVID-19. The Pacific Alliance indicated that they are implementing an action plan to address the economic and commercial effects of this global pandemic. The Plan includes information exchange, trade facilitation measures, support for SMEs as well as e-commerce, among others.

The two parties highlighted the benefit of continuing to improve economic and trade ties between the two blocs and agreed to explore greater cooperation through the development of a new ASEAN-Pacific Alliance Work Plan (2021-2023), which will include areas such as the Fourth Industrial Revolution; Trade and Investment; SMEs; Education; Science, Technology and Innovation; Digital Economy; Gender and Sustainable Development.

The meeting was co-chaired on behalf of the Pacific Alliance by Angélica Romero, Director General of Multilateral Economic Affairs of SUBREI and National Coordinator of Chile, the country that holds the pro tempore presidency of the PA, together with the Ambassador of Chile to Indonesia, Gustavo Ayares; and on behalf of ASEAN by H.E. Ade Padmo Sarwono, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Indonesia to ASEAN. The National Coordinators of Colombia, Mexico and Peru as well as the Permanent Representatives of the ASEAN Member States actively participated in the meeting. The Ambassadors of the Pacific Alliance countries to ASEAN and representatives of the ASEAN Secretariat were also present.

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Pacific Alliance and ASEAN adopt 2021-2025 Work Plan

Posted on by Angélica Alfaro
24
Nov

November 24, 2021 – In order to continue strengthening the ties of friendship and cooperation between the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the Pacific Alliance (PA), the annual meeting between the Permanent Representatives Committee and the National Coordinators of both regional blocs was held on Wednesday. At this meeting, the 2021-2025 Work Plan was adopted, which is focused on the following areas: economic cooperation; in education and culture; science, technology and innovation, as well as smart cities and connectivity; environment and sustainable development; and post-pandemic recovery.

“We are sure that it will contribute to the rapprochement between our regions, generating spaces for interaction and cooperation, exchange of experiences and best practices that will strengthen the capacities of our blocs and each of our countries,” said Luis Felipe Quintero, Colombia’s Chief Negotiator for the Pacific Alliance and National Coordinator (E).

Among the initiatives contemplated in terms of economic cooperation are the organization of investment and trade activities between member countries; the promotion of cooperation in areas such as the digital economy, e-commerce, cybersecurity and the development of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises, the economic empowerment of women and youth employability.

In the area of education and culture, both mechanisms agreed to promote cooperation and the exchange of experiences and knowledge in e-learning, technical and vocational education and training, people-to-people contact (mainly in relation to the revival of sustainable tourism) and cultural exchanges.

In relation to science, technology and innovation, they will also work on the exchange of experiences and best practices in digital economy material such as the PA Regional Digital Market Roadmap and the ASEAN Digital Masterplan, the promotion of women’s participation in these areas, as well as the exploration of opportunities in connectivity and smart cities.

On a joint work on environment, issues such as the fulfillment of the Sustainable Development Goals, plastic waste management, the fight against deforestation, the promotion of circular economy, among others, are part of the Work Plan. “Environmental transformation is one of the issues that will not only protect our planet, but also stimulate our economies and promote their growth,” added Luis Felipe Quintero.

Faced with the post-pandemic recovery, there are two main bets: a recovery with a gender focus and the promotion of the exchange of information on prevention and response measures to COVID-19.

“In these challenging times, the Pacific Alliance and ASEAN need each other to fight the pandemic, boost trade and the economy, address climate change, and reinforce our common goals on issues such as digital transformation and gender equity,” concluded Luis Felipe Quintero.

Read the 2021-2025 Work Plan in English here.

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Pacific Alliance accelerates the creation of Digital Talent in the countries of the bloc to support post-pandemic economic revival

Posted on by Angélica Alfaro
22
Jul

With a series of public-private dialogues, which will take place this year, the regional mechanism advances in the construction of a Road Map for the Creation of Digital Talent.

July 22, 2020 – Today the Webinar “Public-private actions to accelerate the creation of Digital Talent in the Pacific Alliance” was held, the first session of a series of public-private dialogues promoted by the Pacific Alliance (PA), with the support of the IDB and the Center for the Fourth Industrial Revolution of Colombia, in order to build a Road Map for the creation of Digital Talent for the mechanism.

This first session was attended by the Minister of Trade, Industry and Tourism of Colombia, José Manuel Restrepo, and the Undersecretary of International Economic Relations of Chile, Rodrigo Yáñez. Authorities who stressed that the PA countries must be prepared to take on the challenges and opportunities represented by the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR), such as addressing the skills gaps identified by the private sector, which is urgent to ensure a higher rate of employability and adapt to the demands of the work of the future, thus improving the productivity and competitiveness of the economies.

Minister José Manuel Restrepo pointed out that “today more than ever where leadership is needed, these spaces become indispensable and the Pacific Alliance is the best scenario to do it. Especially when the focus is on human talent, its challenges and its transformation into this new better normality”.

In his speech, Undersecretary Rodrigo Yáñez highlighted that the final objective of these dialogues, in addition to making the needs and priorities of the private sector visible, is the preparation of a Digital Talent Road Map for the Pacific Alliance, which “can include specific public policy actions and business initiatives aimed at the creation, acceleration and sustainability of digital talent in our countries. Addressing these challenges is essential to the future recovery of our economies,” he said.

In the course of the seminar, Anayda Frisneda, Microsoft Corporate Manager, who made a presentation on Digital Competencies, stressed that “a road map is very important, it involves joining efforts. We have to talk about an articulated plan between government, private sector, civil society and trained institutions”.

A public-private dialogue was also held, moderated by Santiago Pinzón, Vice President of Digital Transformation of the ANDI, Colombia, with the participation of Víctor Muñoz, Presidential Advisor for Economic Affairs and Digital Transformation, Colombia; Mónica Retamal, President of the Kodea Foundation, member of the Digital Talent Program, Chile; Marushka Chocobar Reyes, Secretary of Digital Government of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers, Peru; and Nidia Chávez, Director of Fundación Telefónica, Mexico.

Among the topics discussed were the diagnosis, lessons learned, and what is being done to build digital talent in the region, as well as how this process can be accelerated in the face of post-pandemic economic recovery.

As a complement to this activity, in the afternoon a Workshop was held to advance in the construction of the road map, where officials from the four countries, accompanied by experts from the Center for the Fourth Industrial Revolution and the IDB, delved into issues such as the level of gap existing in the region, the key elements to accelerate the creation of digital talent, the identification of short-term actions that the State should prioritize for the generation of digital talent in the countries of the Pacific Alliance, among others.

Digital Talent Figures

The Digital Programs chapter of the study on Transversal Skills in LAC in the 21st Century, points out:

  • “Information Technology professions account for 38% of the total demand for skills in Latin America, and it is estimated that more than 1.25 million developers will be needed by 2025”.

According to the 2018 survey on Skill Gaps in Latin America:

  • 77% of companies in Alliance countries have difficulties filling vacancies despite having candidates. Being the lack of general skills one of the most important barriers to recruitment.

Based on a study conducted by the IDB on the competence and skills of the 4IR in AR, BR, ME, CH and CO:

  • 28% of companies invest in R&D.
  • 29% of companies use Big Data / Analytics technology and consider it a central aspect of their business.
  • 51% of companies use digital and mobile platform technologies and consider them a central aspect of their business.
  • 60% of companies identify STEM skills as key to their business, and 29% of these companies point out a lack of these skills.
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Pacific Alliance 8th anniversary

Posted on by Angélica Alfaro
28
Apr

Today, April 28th, the eighth anniversary of the Pacific Alliance, recognized worldwide as one of the region’s most successful integration mechanisms, is celebrated. Peru, Chile, Colombia and Mexico commemorate this important event, carrying out various activities simultaneously.

In Peru, the country that holds the Pro Tempore Presidency, the flags of the four countries and the Pacific Alliance were hoisted at the Government Palace. Also, the projection of the colors, logo and informative video of this important mechanism of integration in the Magic Water Circuit at the Parque de la Reserva (Park of the Reserve) is planned to be performed this Sunday, April 28th at night.

It is also worth mentioning the implementation in Lima, on April 23rd and 24th, of the I Technical Forum of Cooperation of the Pacific Alliance with its Observer States, in whose framework, the first portfolio of projects was announced; the IX Session of the Inter-parliamentary Committee for follow-up to the Pacific Alliance, at the Congress of the Republic, on the 24th and 25th of this month; and the launch of the Public Policy Index for Micro, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises in Latin America and the Caribbean (IPPALC, by its acronym in Spanish), on April 25th and 26th. Finally, on April 26th, a Film Series was inaugurated at the Inca Garcilaso Cultural Center, with the participation of the Embassies of Chile, Colombia and Mexico in Peru.

In the case of Chile, the eight years of creation of this regional integration effort, the most transcendental carried out in Latin America in the last decades will be commemorated with the raising of the flags of Chile, Colombia, Mexico, Peru and the Pacific Alliance at the La Moneda Palace, presidential seat of the Chilean Government since 1922, as well as with the dissemination of various cases of citizens who have benefited from the achievements of this area of deep integration.

In Colombia, the Chat Show “Pacific Alliance: from expectation to reality” was held on April 24th. This talk was accompanied by a gastronomic demonstration entitled “Flavors of the Alliance”. Also, between April 22th and 28th, the San Carlos Palace, headquarters of the Foreign Ministry, wore the flags of the four countries. To conclude, on May 30th, a seminar will be held in Bogota aimed at Colombian entrepreneurs, where the main advances and opportunities in trade, investment and tourism will be presented; organized by ProColombia.

For its part, the Government of Mexico will name a park in Mexico City as “Parque Alianza del Pacífico”. The inauguration will take place within the framework of the XXI Meeting of the Council of Ministers of the Alliance, which will be held on May 10th in the capital of the country. The park is a symbol of the deep integration between Chile, Colombia, Mexico and Peru. Its purpose is also to make the Alliance “more citizen-friendly” according to the 2030 Strategic Vision.

The Pacific Alliance is a mechanism of deep integration that was created on April 28th, 2011, with the signing of the Lima Declaration. It is projected to the world with emphasis in the Asia-Pacific region, promoting greater growth, development and competitiveness, through the free movement of goods, services, capital and people. The 2030 Strategic Vision projects the Pacific Alliance as the main commercial integration platform in Latin America and reinforces its actions as a more integrated, more global, more connected and more citizen-oriented mechanism.

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Pacific Alliance – South Korea negotiations begin

Posted on by Angélica Alfaro
23
Jun

Within the framework of the Meeting of the High Level Group of the Pacific Alliance, held on June 23, 2022, in Santiago de Chile, the beginning of the negotiation process was announced to reach a Free Trade Agreement between the Pacific Alliance and South Korea, which will allow this Asian country to become an Associated State of the Pacific Alliance, once the trade agreement between the parties enters into force.

With this, the countries of the Pacific Alliance reaffirmed the commitment established in the Declaration of Bahía Málaga, to start this process during the first half of this year. In this regard, the Vice Ministers of the Pacific Alliance and the Korean Chief Negotiator instructed their teams to begin work, in accordance with the Terms of Reference agreed for that purpose.

The trade agreement between the countries of the Pacific Alliance and South Korea will further deepen and strengthen the current trade relationship between the five countries, seeking mutual benefit and the development of their inhabitants.

South Korea is among the main trading partners of the countries of the Pacific Alliance and has been an Observer State since 2014. Korea expressed its intention to begin the process to obtain the status of Associated State of the Pacific Alliance in 2018 and it was stipulated in the Declaration of Puerto Vallarta. For the Pacific Alliance, starting this negotiation process will allow it to advance in its objective of becoming a platform for economic and commercial integration with a projection towards the Asia-Pacific region.

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Open registrations: Pacific Alliance advances in the formation of the Women’s Network of Artisanal Fisheries and Aquaculture

Posted on by Angélica Alfaro
12
Oct

  • The initiative, which is initially carried out through the Undersecretariat of Fisheries and Aquaculture (Subpesca) of the Government of Chile, will allow the creation of an information center.

October 12, 2022.- The countries of the Pacific Alliance, through the Government of Chile’s Undersecretariat of Fisheries and Aquaculture (Subpesca) are currently advancing in the creation of a Network of Women in Artisanal Fisheries and Aquaculture of the Pacific Alliance that makes visible the role of women from Chile, Colombia, Mexico and Peru, in these activities.

Initially, it seeks to establish an information center to provide news and novelties to registered women, on the advances and activities in the field of fishing and aquaculture with a gender focus and equality.

The registration period expires on October 24, 2022 and can be done at the following link: https://bit.ly/3fRdHC4

It is important to note that the Pacific Alliance is an economic and development initiative between four Latin American nations: Chile, Colombia, Mexico and Peru.

Since her creation to date, the Alliance has become the axis of a new way of doing business on the continent. The PA is a mechanism for political and economic cooperation and integration that seeks to find a space to promote greater growth and greater competitiveness of the four economies that comprise it.

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Open call for startups with Sustainable Manufacturing solutions

Posted on by Angélica Alfaro
14
Mar

The Tecnológico de Monterrey, Creditex S.A.A. and the Pacific Alliance invite Science and Technology Startups of the Pacific Alliance, which have solutions to reduce the carbon footprint and reduce energy consumption in manufacturing processes, to participate in the Open Call “Innovation Challenges for Sustainable Manufacturing”.

The open call aims to identify startups that have technological solutions and can develop a Minimum Viable Product (products or services, including technological integration) in 3 months to reduce the carbon footprint and reduce energy consumption in manufacturing processes. The goal is to implement the solution under an open innovation model with the participation of the startup, IAMSM researchers, and Creditex.

The open call is open to startups that can solve one of the following challenges:

Solutions for the reduction of energy consumption in electrical equipment.

Reduction of steam consumption in industrial plants.

Real-time energy consumption monitoring systems.

  • For more information, please visit: https://ieegl.brightidea.com/ConvocatoriaRetoManufacturaAP/
  • Project registration: https://bit.ly/RegistroRetoManufactura
  • Effective Date: March 13th to 24th, 2023 (23:59 hrs. Central Mexico time)
  • Questions and information: delfina_gb@tec.mx

This program is coordinated by the TransferenciAP Network and the Science, Technology, and Innovation Technical Group of the Pacific Alliance.