The meetings will take place from February 14–28, 2023.
The United States is hosting APEC this year with a focus on enabling a more interconnected, innovative, and inclusive future for all, according to a release received from the APEC Secretariat here on Friday.
More than 100 meetings and workshops are scheduled to deepen engagement between APEC member economies and advance this year’s agenda to ensure sustainable and inclusive growth in the region.
"APEC 2023 presents a unique opportunity to create a strong platform for governments in the Asia-Pacific region to engage key stakeholders across the 21 economies that comprise APEC," US Senior Official for APEC, Matt Murray, said.
"Public-private collaboration is critical to deepen and expand our economic ties with the fastest-growing region in the world, including in the areas of trade and investment, digitalization and innovation, sustainability and inclusive growth," Murray added.
The current series of APEC meetings began with discussions on mobility. Under the purview of the APEC Business Mobility Group, members will continue their work on safe passage and ensuring smooth movement across borders for businesspersons.
Members are also reviewing technical cooperation regarding the APEC Business Travel Card (ABTC) scheme.
The scheme went digital in 2021 and is currently undergoing regular updates to ensure interoperability and easy access, both for virtual card holders as well as participating member economies.
This focus to adopt new technologies and emerging technologies, as well as improve digital connectivity aligns directly with the Aotearoa Plan of Action.
The Network of Anti-Corruption Authorities and Law Enforcement Agencies is also convening in Palm Springs, with members sharing their latest experiences, case studies, investigative techniques, tools, and effective practices to help build more efficient cross-border cooperation and to enhance the capacity of economies as they fight against corruption, bribery, money laundering, and illicit trade as they identify and return the proceeds of these crimes.
Following the progress of the WTO Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies, APEC’s Ocean and Fisheries Working Group is identifying challenges related to fisheries subsidies faced by member economies.
The group is also deliberating on implementing measures to support small-scale fisheries and aquaculture, given the importance of this sector for the social and economic development of APEC economies.
"We have started APEC 2023 with great momentum, and it is important to maintain this progress as we tackle a set of issues this year that are at the heart of people’s concerns," APEC Secretariat executive director Dr. Rebecca Sta Maria said.
"We need to build on the lessons of the pandemic; we need more predictability, we need to be more effective in facilitating the movement of goods and services, we need to enhance global and regional cooperation and we need more innovation, not just in the sense of developing new products and services but flexibility and adaptability that gets things moving," she remarked.
The First APEC Senior Officials’ Meeting and related meetings will culminate on February 27 when senior officials will further discuss how to achieve a more interconnected, innovative, and inclusive future.
The United States will host a virtual news conference at the conclusion of the meeting on February 28 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. (Pacific Standard Time).
The virtual news conference will feature the APEC 2023 Senior Officials’ Meeting chair Mike Pyle, US Senior Official for APEC, Murray, and APEC Secretariat executive director Dr. Maria.
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Reporter: Yuni Arisandy Sinaga
Editor: Anton Santoso
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