A coalition of business and retail groups is speaking out in support of B.C.'s planned harmonized sales tax.

The controversial 12 per cent sales tax is set to go into effect in July 2010, replacing the provincial sales tax and federal goods and services tax.

So far the tax has met with vocal opposition from opponents who say it will hurt consumers and small businesses because many items that were exempt from the old PST will be taxed more under the HST.

But members of a coalition of business and retail interests held a press conference Monday morning to say they support the new tax because of its more indirect benefits.

Max Logan, of the Retail Council of Canada, said it's time supporters of the tax spoke up publicly about the benefits.

"We believe that HST will improve the underlying strength of B.C.'s economy, improve productivity and most importantly boost wages. We want the media and the public at large to know that there is another side to the HST story, and that is that HST has many positives for B.C.," said Logan.

Jock Finlayson, the vice-president of the Business Council of B.C., also spoke out in favour of the HST, saying the new pro-HST coalition represents more than 30,000 business and employers.