links: http://apec2015.ph/apec-2015/
The Philippines’ hosting of APEC 2015
APEC 2015: BUILDING INCLUSIVE ECONOMIES, BUILDING A BETTER WORLD
How did the Philippines formulate the APEC 2015 theme?
Stakeholders and other significant
actors adopted and utilized a set of guiding principles in crafting the
theme for APEC 2015. Accordingly, the theme should possess inclusive,
forward-looking qualities such as balance, continuity, relevance,
resonance, and sustainability. It shall underline and advance both
domestic and regional goals through building on past and ongoing
initiatives while addressing present challenges and needs that relate to
common concerns and interests. Moreover, the APEC 2015 theme should be
realized by achieving medium term to long-term results.
What is the theme of APEC 2015?
Under the Philippines’ leadership, the
overall subject of APEC 2015 is the promotion and advancement of
inclusive growth in the Asia-Pacific region, hence the APEC 2015 theme,
“Building Inclusive Economies, Building a Better World.” Accordingly,
inclusive growth can be defined, described, and analyzed in three stages
–domestic/national, regional, and macro levels.
- At the domestic/national level, the inclusive growth strategy of the Philippines is based on creating employment opportunities and jobs, involving and integrating the majority of the population in the economic and social mainstream, and alleviating poverty through good governance and domestic reform.
- At the regional level, the inclusive growth strategy of the APEC region is focused on expanding access to opportunities and enabling people to realize their full potential which will result in more productive employment opportunities, dynamic economic growth, and greater well-being.
- At the macro level, the inclusive growth trajectory of the APEC region is centered on bridging the gap between developing and developed APEC economies for the purpose of maximizing the benefits of a freer and more open trade and investment regime for each and every member economy.
What are the APEC 2015 priorities of the Philippines as host Economy?
In APEC 2015, the Philippines as Host
Economy shall seek to mainstream and pursue its priorities into the
agenda and economic policy thrusts of the member economies in the
Asia-Pacific region. Specifically, the priorities were identified as
follows:
- Investing in Human Capital Development;
- Fostering Small and Medium Enterprises’ (SMEs) Participation in Regional and Global Markets;
- Building Sustainable and Resilient Communities; and
- Enhancing the Regional Economic Integration Agenda.
What is the relevance of each priority to the Asia-Pacific region?
Each priority has substantial and unique
significance to the member economies of the Asia-Pacific region. The
priorities are then complemented with sub-priorities that would support
their realization and serve as building blocks for the fulfillment of
the overarching objective of APEC 2015 – inclusive growth. The
implications brought by these priorities may have varying degrees of
importance yet otherwise prove to be inter-related and interwoven in
nature.
INVESTING IN HUMAN CAPITAL DEVELOPMENT
Human resources play a vital role in the
attainment of the objectives of member economies, namely – enhanced job
generation, improved productive employment opportunities, and greater
economic growth. As such, human capital development will be promoted
through discussions on education, innovation, and capacity-building that
would substantially affect the future of growth and stimulate the
growth of the future. The identified sub-priorities are:
- Promoting knowledge-based economies;
- Promoting science & technology education and innovation in APEC;
- Developing job skills needed by APEC business in the 21st century; and
- Internationalization of education/cross-border education to develop APEC-wide skills.
FOSTERING SMEs’ PARTICIPATION IN REGIONAL AND GLOBAL MARKETS
Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) are
estimated to account for more than 97 percent of all businesses (99.6
percent in the Philippines) and employ over half of the workforce across
APEC economies.1 Acknowledging the significant contribution
of businesses to job creation and economic growth, increased emphasis
will be placed on the goal of integrating and internationalization of
SMEs including their participation in global value chains (GVCs). The
sub-priorities are the following:
- Removing barriers to SMEs, including entry to markets;
- Promoting inclusive growth through sustainable and resilient SMEs; and
- Advocating modernization and standard conformance among SMEs.
BUILDING SUSTAINABLE AND RESILIENT COMMUNITIES
The changing global environment, along
with natural and man-made disasters, has brought tremendous Loss and
Damage (L&D) and disruptions to the interlinked supply and demand
sides of the Asia-Pacific trade. Moreover, disasters and
disaster-related events negatively impact the image of member economies
as stable, worthwhile investment destinations. Strengthened efforts will
thus be focused on the resilience and sustainability of APEC business
and communities affected by energy and food security. Increased
attention will also be given to the preservation of ocean ecosystems and
marine resources due to their critical importance for the Blue
Economy-oriented member economies. The sub-priorities are:
- Creating and promoting risk reduction and management in APEC economies;
- Building resilient infrastructure;
- Fostering business continuity;
- Building SMEs’ resilience to disaster;
- Enhancing food security and the Blue Economy in the APEC region; and
- Promoting coastal management and marine conservation.
ENHANCING THE REGIONAL ECONOMIC INTEGRATION AGENDA
Currently, there are an estimated 42
Regional Free Trade Agreements between and among APEC economies.
Negotiations are also taking place on the Trans-Pacific Partnership
(TPP)2 and Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP)3.
The long-term vision of the APEC is a Free Trade Area of the
Asia-Pacific (FTAAP) that will establish a single FTA among all APEC
economies. As host of APEC 2015, the Philippines is expected to support
and continuously work on the regional economic integration (REI) agenda
with special focus on trade in services, which amounts to almost half of
APEC economies’ GDP. The sub-priorities were identified as:
- Strengthening regional economic integration through the Bogor Goals4;
- Promoting connectivity through Trade in Services, which will focus on the people-to-people and institutional connectivity within the region;
- Advancing financial markets aimed at creating stronger financial institutions within the region to better respond to prospective economic shocks; and
- Strengthening global supply chain/global value chains in the APEC region.
1 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, “Small and Medium Enterprises” http://www.apec.org/Groups/SOM-Steering-Committee-on-Economic-and-Technical-Cooperation/Working-Groups/Small-and-Medium-Enterprises.aspx (accessed October 10, 2014)
2 TPP Members: Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, United States, Viet Nam
3 RCEP Members: Australia, Brunei, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, New Zealand, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand, Viet Nam
APEC Website
links:
OTHER HUMAN RIGHTS PROMOTIONS WEBSITES
PROTECTION AND PROMOTION OF HUMAN RIGHTS
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