DFA Participates in First APEC Senior Officials’ Meeting for 2024 in Lima, Peru

DFA Undersecretary Charles C. Jose delivers his intervention during the First Senior Officials’ Meeting (SOM1) held in Lima, Peru.

LIMA 14 March 2024 – Undersecretary for Multilateral Affairs and International Economic Relations Charles C. Jose led the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs’ (DFA) delegation to the First APEC Senior Officials’ Meeting (SOM1) held on 24 February to 08 March 2024 in Lima, Peru.

Peru, as the current host economy, has set this year’s theme as “Empower. Include. Grow”. The theme prioritizes trade and investment for inclusive growth, innovation to promote the transition of the global labor force to the formal and global economy, and sustainable growth for resilient development. It also builds on the APEC Putrajaya Vision 2040, the Aotearoa Plan of Action, and the Golden Gate Declaration adopted during the APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting (AELM) held in San Francisco, USA, last year. 

Peru’s APEC theme resonates with the Philippines’ own priorities in APEC, as well as the Philippine Economic Development Plan (PEDP). This convergence presents an exceptional opportunity for strong engagements by the Philippines with host Peru, and other member economies. 

APEC was founded in 1989, and consists of 21 member economies in the Asia-Pacific region. Since its establishment, APEC has become an important grouping where leaders of member economies could discuss relevant policies, and forge cooperative and non-binding agreements intended to foster national and regional economic growth and development.

During the SOM1 Meeting, Undersecretary Jose was joined by APEC National Secretariat Director General Marcos Angelo A. S. Punsalang, Special Assistant Von Ryan S. Ferrera and Mr. Alexander J. Araque. END