Progress Evaluation and Future Direction: An Analysis of the Cebu Action Plan

The Cebu Action Plan (CAP), a 10-year roadmap within the APEC Finance Ministers’ Process, aims to enhance growth and resilience through initiatives on financial inclusion, trade facilitation, fiscal reforms, and infrastructure investment. This Policy Brief shows that progress in the implementation of the CAP varies across APEC, revealing a misalignment between perceived importance and actual commitments. The COVID-19 pandemic has prompted a reassessment of priorities, underscoring the need to prioritize preparedness and address climate change. Integrating the APEC Putrajaya Vision 2040 into the CAP is proposed, focusing on sustainability and digitalization. As the CAP concludes in 2025, APEC economies need to contemplate post-CAP strategies, drawing on pandemic lessons and building on current progress.