APEC Senior Officials’ Meeting begins on Monday, says Palace

President Benigno S. Aquino III graces the official launch of the APEC Logo during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) 2015 kick-off ceremony at The Eye Ballroom of the Green Sun Hotel in Pasong Tamo Extension, Makati City on Monday night. (Photo by Robert Viñas / Malacañang Photo Bureau)

MANILA — Malacañang announced on Sunday that the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Senior Officials’ Meeting will begin on Monday in Clark Freeport Zone, Angeles City, Pampanga and Subic Bay Freeport Zone, Olongapo City.

Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said APEC’s meeting theme this year is “Building Inclusive Economies, Building a Better World.”

“Ang nasabing pagpupulong ay isang mahalagang bahagi ng nakatakdang pagdaraos ng 23rd APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting sa Nobyembre ng taong ito kung saan ang Pilipinas ang tatayo bilang host at tagapangulo (The said meeting is an important part of the 23rd APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting on November this year where the Philippines will be the host),” said Coloma in a radio interview over dzRB Radyo ng Bayan.

According to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), over 30 working group and committee level meetings will be held in the first leg of the APEC meeting.

Among the topics to be discussed are trade and investment, economic and technical cooperation, anti-corruption, combating terrorism, fisheries and the seas, customs, expanding e-commerce, life sciences and health, fighting illegal logging, and improving different services.

“Layon din ng pagpupulong na isulong ang mga programa at lahat ng patakaran hinggil sa haligi ng APEC na trade and investment liberalization, business facilitation, at economic and technical cooperation (The meeting also aims to push for programs and regulations about the foundations of APEC such as trade and investment liberalization, business facilitation, at economic and technical cooperation),” Coloma added.

Coloma said there are four priorities to be discussed during the meeting — enhancing regional economic integration; fostering small and medium enterprises’ participation in the regional and global economy; investing in human capital development; and building sustainable and resilient communities.

“Bilang host, magdaraos din ang Pilipinas ng isang diyalogo sa pagitan ng mga kinatawan mula sa pampubliko at pribadong sektor upang talakayin ang mga paraan tungo sa pagpapalakas ng kalakalan at kakayahan sa sektor ng information technology and business process management (IT-BPM), creative industries, at research and development services sa rehiyon ng Asya Pasipiko (As host, the Philippines will also conduct a dialogue between the delegates from private and public sectors to discuss various ways towards strengthening trade and the capabilities of the IT-BPM sector),” said Coloma.

APEC is composed of 21 member economies representing Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Canada, Chile, People’s Republic of China, Hong Kong China, Japan, Indonesia, Republic of Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Peru, the Philippines, Russia, Singapore, Chinese Taipei, Thailand, United States of America and Vietnam.