President Marcos Opens ABAC3 Meeting; Underscores Equity, Sustainability, and Opportunity in Partnership with Business Sector
President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. with Philippine Trade and Industry Secretary Alfredo E. Pascual, Special Assistant to the President Anton Lagdameo, Presidential Adviser on Investments Frederick Go, ABAC Chair Dominic Ng, US APEC Senior Official Matt Murray, ABAC Philippines Members Sabin Aboitiz and Joanne de Asis, Alternate Member Bill Luz, and ABAC Members during the ABAC3 Opening Ceremony. (photo from ABAC Philippines Facebook page).
CEBU 02 August 2023 – On 28 July, President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. opened the Third APEC Business Advisory Council Meeting (ABAC3) hosted by the Philippines on 27 – 30 July 2023. In his opening remarks, the President highlighted the dynamic partnership between APEC economies and the business sector and how this contributes to the attainment of the APEC Putrajaya Vision 2040 for an open, dynamic, resilient, and peaceful Asia-Pacific region for the prosperity of our people and future generations. He emphasized that the principles of equity, sustainability, and opportunity must drive the workstreams of the APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC), as he looked forward to discussing with ABAC the latter’s report to the APEC Economic Leaders during the upcoming APEC Summit in San Francisco in November.
During the Gala Dinner attended by First Lady Liza A. Marcos, Secretary of Trade and Industry Alfredo Pascual, Secretary of Tourism Christina Garcia-Frasco, Cagayan Economic Zone Authority (CEZA) Secretary Raul Lambino, Congressman Duke Frasco, Congressman Pablo John Garcia, Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama, Presidential Adviser on Investments Frederick Go, ABAC Chair Dominic Ng and ABAC Members, US APEC
Senior Official Matt Murray, Director-General of the APEC National Secretariat DFA Assistant Secretary Marcos A.S. Punsalang, APEC Secretariat Executive Director Rebeca Sta. Maria, the ABAC Secretariat led by Tony Basilio, members of the diplomatic and consular corps, and top business leaders in the APEC region, DFA Undersecretary for Multilateral Affairs and International Economic Relations and the Philippines’ APEC Senior Official Carlos D. Sorreta highlighted the key role of ABAC in APEC processes, including keeping the focus on the critical work of APEC on regional growth and prosperity through trade and investment liberalization and facilitation. “When we get caught up in the politics of the day, and divisions threaten, ABAC is the voice of reason and pragmatic action, reminding us that it is our unity of purpose that has given us strength,” he said.
The Philippines’ ABAC3 hosting was led by ABAC Philippines Members Sabin Aboitiz, Tomas Alcantara, and Joanne de Asis under the theme, “Equity, Sustainability, Opportunity”. The Philippines’ ABAC Members hold key roles in the ABAC working groups for Sustainability, Regional Economic Integration, and Digitalization and Innovation and Task Forces on Inclusion and Finance. ABAC Members lead their respective business sectors to report to the APEC Economic Leaders and engage with APEC Ministers and Senior Officials through dialogue. ABAC was founded in 1995 and held its inaugural meeting in 1996 coinciding with the first APEC hosting of the Philippines. For more information, please visit https://www2.abaconline.org/
DFA Undersecretary Carlos D. Sorreta delivers his keynote remarks during the ABAC3 Gala Dinner.
DFA Undersecretary Carlos D. Sorreta and DFA Assistant Secretary Marcos A.S. Punsalang in front of the Cebu Provincial Capitol during the Welcome Reception. (photos from the APEC National Secretariat)
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