PH Joins APEC Economies in Renewing Commitment for Sustainable Inclusive Growth for the People of Asia-Pacific
Senior Officials of APEC’s 21 economies together at the concluding event for Chile’s host year of APEC at Singapore on 07 December 2019. (Santiago PE photo)
SANTIAGO 19 December 2019 — Following the cancellation of the 2019 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economics Leaders’ Week, which had been planned for November 11 to 17 in Santiago, Senior Officials of APEC’s 21 economies meet in Singapore on 07 December 2019, to close the hosting year of Chile as the latter reported on the most important outcomes for the year.
The most significant accomplishments this year for APEC covers three Roadmaps which will guide the Forum's future work on a key domestic priority which is working towards more inclusive and sustainable growth.
The Roadmaps on Marine Debris and on Combating Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing (IUU) established concrete areas of work and represent two central deliverables under Chile’s Sustainable Growth APEC host year priority, which shall guide member economies to promote domestic and regional work and concrete actions for the protection of marine ecosystems.
Furthermore, the Santiago Roadmap for Women and Inclusive Growth seeks to promote the greater economic empowerment of women and to reduce existing gaps between women and men in the Asia-Pacific region throughout to 2030. Concrete goals and objectives were established such as: increasing the number of women in leadership positions; supporting the development of women's skills, especially in science, technology and mathematics; and reducing the digital literacy gap for women, among other action areas. The year saw women’s issues elevated to the level of a host year priority for all members of the Forum.
Chile issued a statement titled “Host Economy Leader’s Statement”, reflecting on APEC 2019, which included significant initiatives, deliverables and hundreds of meetings, workshops, and events that took place throughout Chile. The Statement complements the outcomes from the sectoral ministerial meetings on trade, food security, small and medium enterprises (SMEs), women and the economy, finance, mining and health.
The statement declared that member economies “can be proud of APEC’s achievements, while recognizing that the needs of our people are evolving. New prospects are emerging, including through digital technologies and the society of knowledge and information.” At the same time, APEC economies are called upon to “respond more effectively to global challenges as diverse as inequality, climate change, terrorism, and our ageing populations. Chile believes that multilateral and regional fora, such as APEC, can provide inclusive and sustainable solutions and create new opportunities for our people”.
The Philippines supported the priorities of Chile and continued to advocate the cause of micro, small and medium-scale enterprises (SMEs) by enabling them to globalize, take advantage of new digital technologies, and access financing. Through the ongoing Boracay Action Agenda, globalizing small businesses and providing them institutional support was an initiative of the Philippines when it hosted APEC in 2015.
Senior Officials are also gearing themselves on the work ahead to finalize a new vision for APEC beyond 2020. The recommendations of the APEC Vision Group (AVG) will be taken into consideration in Malaysia as incoming host in crafting a new vision for APEC, together with the recommendations of the business sector through the APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC) and some think tanks.
The AVG said APEC is at a pivotal junction of transformation towards new era of development with potential for prosperity and regional economic integration and with unprecedented challenges like trade disputes and increasing social inequality, requiring APEC to refocus and be revitalized.
As an active member of APEC and having hosted APEC twice, the Philippine will host the following events in 2020: Manila to host the second of four 2020 meetings of ABAC, slated for May 2020; the Philippines, through the Department of Trade and Industry, and in cooperation with the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), will hold a global SMEs week in Boracay in June 2020; The DFA – Office of the Undersecretary for International Economic Relations (OUIER) will also have a series of events to commemorate the 30th anniversary of APEC, including capacity building activities for stakeholders outside Metro Manila, a coffee table book launching, photo exhibit, food festival, young leaders’ forum on APEC and a gala event in March 2020. END
For more information, visit https://www.santiagope.dfa.gov.ph or https://www.facebook.com/PHinChile.