BUSINESS groups have thrown their support for outgoing Trade and Industry Secretary Alfredo E. Pascual, lauding his efforts on micro, small and medium enterprises , spurring job generation in the IT-BPM industry and “removing barriers” to trade and investment, among others.
“His strategic initiatives received strong support from European business chambers and groups, reflecting his commitment to creating a conducive environment for international trade,” the GPCCI said in a statement on Thursday. This, GPCCI noted, “further solidified the strong ties between the two countries and opened new avenues for collaboration.”
“We are thankful for the strong commitment and support of Secretary Fred Pascual to the IT-BPM industry since 2022. The industry grew substantially in jobs generated and export revenue during his term at DTI,” Madrid said in a Viber message sent to the BusinessMirror. In particular, the PRA chief said it’s “completely unlevel or unfair” that local retailers are required to pay 12-percent Value-added Tax while foreign retailers who are on E-commerce platforms or online are going to pay only 1-percent withholding tax.