Philippines Pushes for Concrete Action on Inclusive Growth at APEC Senior Officials' Meeting

Philippines Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Senior Official Undersecretary Carlos D. Sorreta delivering Philippine positions during the APEC Senior Officials’ Meeting (SOM1) Plenary Meeting. (APEC National Secretariat photo)

CALIFORNIA 07 March 2023 – The Philippine delegation led by the Philippines’ Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Senior Official Undersecretary for Multilateral Affairs and International Economic Relations Carlos D. Sorreta participated in the recently concluded First APEC Senior Officials’ Meeting (SOM1) held on 26 – 28 February 2023 in Palm Springs, California. Related meetings, capacity building seminars and workshops, joint cross-fora and cross-committee dialogues began on 14 February leading up to SOM1. Undersecretary Sorreta was supported by Office of the Undersecretary for Multilateral Affairs and International Economic Relations (OUMAIER) Special Assistant Career Minister Arnel M. Sanchez, APEC National Secretariat, and Department of Trade and Industry Bureau of International Trade Relations (DTI-BITR) led by Director Marie Sherylyn D. Aquia. All APEC economies, the APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC), and APEC observers participated. The US hosting of APEC this year coincides with the 30th anniversary of the elevation of APEC to a summit-level forum during the 1993 US chairmanship.

In his remarks and interventions, Undersecretary Sorreta emphasized the need for APEC to tackle inclusive growth that would lead to concrete and tangible outcomes and to ensure that the development gap is effectively narrowed for APEC to truly achieve its vision for a prosperous region. “Long term growth could not be sustained without economic inclusion. Equipping vulnerable and marginalized sectors with the tools they need to fully benefit from economic growth, by improving their education, skills, and health, would help close the equity gap in the economy”, he said. He went on to cite potential areas of cooperation in digitalization and the digital economy, data privacy and cybersecurity issues, digital infrastructure, digital fraud, online consumer protection concerns, digital inclusion and access to finance, and addressing the persisting digital divide; micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSME) and supply chain resilience; women and the economy and their participation in STEM education; climate-resilient infrastructure; and sustainable food production, among others.

During the Plenary Sessions, APEC Senior Officials noted and endorsed the reports of its various committees and working groups, and agreed on the adoption of the work plans and workstreams of APEC sub-fora this year, including proposed collaborations and high-level and Ministerial Meetings to be held throughout the year. APEC economies broadly supported the Manoa Agenda which outlines the US proposal to implement the Bangkok Goals on the Bio-Circular-Green (BCG) Economy Model, adopted by APEC Economic Leaders last year, through high level outcomes, cross-fora collaborations, and stakeholder engagements including with APEC’s business sector. Activities, projects, and initiatives planned for the year include a Business Sustainability Forum, endorsement of updated clean energy and sustainability targets, connecting women entrepreneurs to supply chains, expanding MSME access to cross-border e-Commerce, continued discussions on climate finance and just energy transition, and focus on areas such as sustainable trade and investment, alternative fuel sources for transportation, advancing climate resilience and emergency preparedness, food security, and health systems.

The Philippines continues to push for its economic priorities in food and energy security, digitalization and the digital participation of its MSMEs and other economic sectors with unlocked potential, climate mitigation and adaptation action. It also focuses on the cross-cutting issues of inclusion, resilience, and sustainability including in areas that will ensure the protection and safe passage of maritime workers, empowerment of women, and facilitating clean and green business activities.

The theme of APEC this year is “Interconnected. Innovative. Inclusive.” For more information, please visit https://www.apec.org/press/news-releases/2022/apec-rolls-out-priorities-for-2023. END

(left) Philippines APEC Senior Official Undersecretary Carlos D. Sorreta poses with Canada APEC Senior Official Weldon Epp, after their bilateral meeting. (right) Philippine delegation to APEC SOM1 led by Undersecretary Carlos D. Sorreta. APEC National Secretariat photo)