APEC Ministers Focus on Regional Economic Recovery to Rebuild Better
Ministers from APEC’s 21 member economies have convened to reiterate their commitment to pursue free and open trade and investment as well reinvigorating our efforts towards regional economic recovery and growth, explained Malaysia’s Senior Minister and Minister of International Trade and Industry on Monday in Kuala Lumpur at the 31st APEC Ministerial Meeting.
Together, ministers are working to advance regional trade and investment amid the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic which has caused massive disruption to supply chains and is wreaking havoc on the global economic landscape.
“This year, we have pivoted, prioritized and progressed work on a number of APEC initiatives, despite the challenging circumstances brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Dato’ Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali, Chair of this year’s APEC Ministerial Meeting.
At the virtual meeting, Dato’ Seri Azmin Ali, stressed the need for member economies to “continue to resist the forces of protectionism, and strengthen support to a well-functioning, rules-based multilateral trading system, while remaining steadfast to advancing the development agenda of the World Trade Organization.”
The APEC region experienced its first ever economic growth contraction in thirty years, with gross domestic product declining by 3.7 percent in the first six months of 2020. This grim scenario followed a surge in unemployment rates among APEC economies, with more than 74 million people who are currently looking for work.
Dato’ Seri Azmin Ali commended member economies’ unceasing efforts in slowly reopening economic activities, returning workers to employment and allowing people to move across borders through the introduction of travel bubbles, “all while managing the collective concerns regarding the health, safety and well-being of our people.”
“The travel bubbles that are emerging within the region are a crucial development as these could possibly redefine the future of travel and tourism,” he added. “These bubbles are also central to revitalizing the essential movement of people within APEC.”
In an effort to bolster a coordinated approach to collecting and sharing information on COVID-19, Malaysia as the chair of APEC 2020 launched the COVID-19 Latest and Immediate Virtual Exchange or COVID-19 LIVE site in partnership with the APEC Secretariat.
The site will serve as a tool for information sharing among APEC members to improve the region’s preparedness against pandemics and as a reference point for member economies’ COVID-19 experiences.
Meeting under the theme of Optimising Human Potential towards a Resilient Future of Shared Prosperity: Pivot. Prioritise. Progress, Dato’ Seri Azmin Ali underscored the importance of improving the narrative of trade and investment, one of the key priorities for Malaysia as the host this year.
“It is imperative to translate the benefits of trade and investment into a more inclusive economic growth that brings palpable benefits and greater well-being to all our people,” he explained. “In this regard, we have placed particular emphasis on shared prosperity, to enable more effective and meaningful economic participation by all segments of our societies.”
Ministers have also completed their work in formulating APEC’s new post-2020 vision, which will chart the long-term strategic direction for the region for the next two decades. The recommendations from this meeting will be presented to APEC leaders at the upcoming virtual meeting on Friday, 20 November.
# # #
For further details, or to arrange possible interviews, please contact:
Masyitha Baziad +65 9751 2146 at [email protected]
Michael Chapnick +65 9647 4847 at [email protected]
More on APEC meetings, events, projects and publications can be found on www.apec.org. You can also follow APEC on Twitter and join us on Facebook, LinkedIn.