APEC meetings seen to boost Phl economy

MANILA, Philippines - The eight sectoral ministerial meetings in the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Leaders’ Summit in 2015, which the Philippines will be hosting, could help move the country's economy forward, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said Tuesday.

 

At the APEC 2015 site selection briefing at the Asian Institute of Management in Makati, DFA Undersecretary for International Economic Relations Laura del Rosario told reporters that the country has chosen to host the sectoral ministerial meetings on education, energy, food security, small and medium scale industry, oceans, science and technology, transportation and women and the economy.

 

"We have chosen to focus on these sectoral ministerial meetings because we think these could help push the economy forward. We are using academic researchers to do policy research and identify the areas that need improvements," said Del Rosario.

 

Del Rosario clarified that the Oceans Ministerial Meeting will focus on marine and fisheries matters and not on maritime issues. The ministerial meeting will be hosted by the Department of Agriculture, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.

 

The Philippines will be hosting the APEC 2015 ministerial and high level meetings from December 2014 to November 2015. 

 

During this period, there will be four Senior Officials' Meetings (2to 3 days) and related Working Group meetings (17 days);  eight Sectoral Ministerial Meetings (2-3 days), three regular Ministerial Meetings (2-3 days each), the APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting (7 days); APEC Business Advisory Council Meeting (3-4 days); and the APEC CEO Summit (2-3 days).

 

An estimated of 24,000 participants from the 21 member economies will be expected to attend all the meetings.

 

Meanwhile, the organizers of the APEC 2015 summit has still yet to finalize the list of potential venues for the meetings.

 

On Monday, Albay, Bacolod, Boracay, Clark and Subic presented their "pitches" on their capacities to hold the meetings. Yesterday, Cebu, Tagaytay, Iloilo and Davao presented theirs. Metro Manila has yet to schedule its presentation before the APEC National Organizing Council (NOC) Secretariat.

 

Guillermo "Bill" Luz, Private Sector Co-Chairman of the National Competitiveness Council which is helping the APEC NOC said the decision on the final APEC hosting venues for Senior Officials Meetings and Sectoral Ministerial Meetings will be announced by the 2015 APEC NOC next month.

 

Luz said the NOC is very careful in announcing the possible venues of the meetings for security reasons.

 

"We are looking but have not decided. We cannot immediately announce the chosen venues for security reasons," he said.

 

According to Luz, the NOC is looking at either October or November 2015 to host the APEC leaders meeting.

 

"The summit itself will either be in November or October. The Philippines will be hosting meetings in nine to 10 venues. It would be Manila plus nine," he said.

 

Luz said that it is possible that one venue could play host to more than one meeting.

 

"We will listen to the pitches. Until it gets to the APEC NOC, no decision will be made. Other economies will also be inspecting the venues," he said.

 

Meanwhile, Luz said APEC 2015 will also try to showcase the country's culture and cuisine.

 

"They know that it is more fun in the Philippines.  We will be showcasing our culture. Every APEC country is keen in projecting its culture," he said. The Philippines first hosted an APEC Leaders’ Summit in 1996.