APEC Senior Officials Meet to Discuss Agenda for 2020, Brave COVID-19
Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Senior Officials give a thumbs up for the APEC 2020 SOM1 Meeting. (APEC photo)
MALAYSIA 13 March 2020 – Senior Officials of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Forum conducted their first formal meeting for 2020 to discuss APEC priorities for the year. The meetings were held in the administrative capital of Malaysia in Putrajaya from 18 to 22 February 2020.
The Philippines joined 20 other economies as discussion went underway in crafting a new vision for APEC beyond the year 2020. Senior Officials held a special session and a multi-stakeholder consultation to exchange views on the next APEC Vision, a key deliverable during the hosting year of Malaysia to be submitted to the APEC Economic Leaders in November 2020 for approval.
Malaysia as host adopted the theme “Optimizing Human Potential towards a Future of Shared Prosperity” with three priorities, namely improving the narrative of trade and investment, inclusive economic participation through digital economy and technology, and driving innovative sustainability, while setting out to convey the benefits the forum has had on inclusive and sustainable regional growth and prosperity
Senior Officials discussed measures on accelerating regional economic integration and a more open trade and investment environment in Asia-Pacific. They also shared views on APEC’s contributions to the multilateral trade system (MTS), the World Trade Organization (WTO) which will celebrate its 25th founding anniversary, and the upcoming 12th WTO Ministerial Conference (MC 12) in June 2020 in Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan.
The Philippines renewed its advocacy for its initiatives such as the globalization of micro-small and medium scale enterprises (MSMEs), women, environment, and structural reforms. The Philippines also expressed support and programs for capacity-building activities that would transfer skills, knowledge, and technology to domestic stakeholders and improve the delivery of services in developing economies.
Representatives from the Department of Foreign Affairs Office of the Undersecretary for International Economic Relations (DFA-OUIER), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI)-Bureau of International Trade Relations, DFA Office of Consular Affairs (OCA), Philippine Embassy in Kuala Lumpur, Philippine Trade and Investment Center (PTIC) in Kuala Lumpur, Department of Science and Technology (DOST), Department of Health (DOH), National Economic Development Authority (NEDA), Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), Bureau of Customs (BOC), Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA), Philippine Competition Commission (PCC), Tariff Commission and the Professional Regulations Commission (PRC) attended related meetings, workshops and policy dialogues on 03 to 19 February 2020.
The next meetings of the Senior Officials, where they are expected to discuss further and finalize the APEC post-2020 vision, will be in April 2020. END
Representatives from the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) 2020 SOM1 Meeting. (APEC photo)
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) foster women empowerment through government representation in a multilateral forum. (APEC photo)