Accelerating Regional Connectivity
SUBIC BAY FREEPORT — Foreign Affairs Assistant Secretary Wilfredo Santos stressed Monday to the member-economies of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) the need to accelerate the region’s connectivity in various areas of interest as an effective strategy to reach inclusive growth.
“As recognized by the APEC Economic Leaders in 2013, we have already been able, and should continue to move ahead in a common direction towards furthering travel facilitation for the benefit of business people across economies, in pursuance of the need for more efficient flow of goods, services, capital and people,” Santos pointed out during the Business Mobility Group (BMG) meeting.
Santos also elicited his fellow officials’ support in developing the APEC Business Travel Card scheme as a major enabling mechanism to facilitate movement of business people within and among member-economies.
“Part of our effort in maintaining this free movement of people is ensuring that border control authorities are equipped with tools needed to make better informed decisions for which the Regional Movement Alert System (RMAS) plays a vital role,” he added.
In closing, he announced that the Philippines and Australia have reached an agreement regarding the Phase II of RMAS which he cited as an important milestone in border protection initiatives coming out of APEC based on the context of the Philippine collaboration with Australia.
BMG is among the ongoing related technical meetings in Clark and Subic Freeports in line with the 1st Senior Officials Meeting (SOM1).
“During the discussions of the senior officials during the SOM1, they will take into account the results of these technical meetings in addition to recommendations from the APEC Business Advisory Council, which will have their first meeting this year from January 27-30 in Hong Kong, China,” APEC said in a statement.
Marking the inaugural gathering of APEC senior officials for this year’s Philippine hosting, SOM1 will foster discussion on a range of issues relevant to the region including the Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific, trade facilitation and implementation, environmental goods and services, liberalization, and efforts toward development and against corruption.
The actual SOM1 shall be held from February 6-7 in Clark Freeport.
APEC began as an informal dialogue group in 1989, but has since become the premier forum for facilitating economic growth, cooperation, trade and investment in the Asia Pacific region.
Apart from the Philippines, other members include Australia; Brunei Darussalam; Canada; Chile; People’s Republic of China; Hong Kong, China; Indonesia; Japan; Republic of Korea; Malaysia; Mexico; New Zealand; Papua New Guinea; Peru; The Russian Federation; Singapore; Chinese Taipei; Thailand; United States of America; and Viet Nam.
This year’s meetings carry the theme “Building Inclusive Economies, Building a Better World.” (PIA 3)
