Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Trade and sectoral officials from 21 APEC member economies gathered in Chile to discuss multilateral solutions to the challenges that the Asia-Pacific will face this coming decade in order to achieve inclusive and sustainable growth.

It was noted in a written statement issued by the APEC Secretariat and received here on Tuesday.

Over the next two weeks, officials meeting in Santiago, Chile, will introduce joint initiatives to ensure APEC economies collectively adapt to an increasingly digitized society and to ensure continued economic growth is both sustainable and distributed fairly across society.

Chile`s 2019 agenda prioritizes initiatives that will help empower underrepresented sectors by improving their access to the economy through digital breakthroughs and creating opportunities for better jobs, wages, and quality of life.

"We will see a continuation of the conversation around issues and challenges that matter to APEC and to APEC economies, specifically the work that APEC needs to do on the digital economy, digital society," Executive Director of the APEC Secretariat Rebecca Sta Maria stated.

"Digital society is one of the priorities of Chile. The other is a focus on inclusive economic development. This is ensuring that no one is left behind, effectively, whether it is women, whether it is MSMEs, whether its indigenous folks, or those on the margins of society," Sta Maria noted.

She acknowledged that 2019 is a challenging time for APEC, with support for multilateralism and free trade being put to question in the midst of bilateral trade tensions between member economies.

However, Sta Maria argued that APEC is the perfect platform for Asia-Pacific economies to find solutions through deeper conversations and engagements.

"Perhaps we won`t find solutions immediately. That is the reality, but at least we can continue to engage and have these important conversations," she emphasized.

"I am confident that with Chile on the chair, we will see some bright spots, more green chutes, I suppose, in this environment," she concluded.

Chile holds the APEC Chairmanship for 2019 under the theme "Connecting People, Building the Future." Chile`s priorities for APEC 2019 are digital society; integration 4.0; women, SMEs and inclusive growth; and sustainable growth.


Reporter: Yuni Arisandy Sinaga
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
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