19th Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Leaders' Week in
Honolulu, Hawaii to be held from November 8 to 13.
President Aquino will be joined by a lean delegation led by Foreign
Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario, Trade and Industry Secretary
Gregory Domingo and Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima.
During the APEC Leaders meeting, the President and 20 other APEC
leaders will discuss relevant issues, including growth and jobs,
regulatory reform and competitiveness, and energy efficiency and
security.
APEC 2011, which is hosted by the United States, is working towards
the achievement of a "seamless regional economy."
Prior to the APEC Leader's Meeting, the President will be attending
the APEC CEO Summit, which is scheduled on November 11 to 12.
During the event, DFA Undersecretary for International Economic
Relations Laura del Rosario said President Aquino will talk about
energy, food and commodity security.
The APEC CEO Summit is held annually in the APEC host economy just
prior to the annual APEC Leaders' Meeting and is a "by invitation
only" event.
"The President is the only head of the economy who will be there and
there will be two CEOs with him. After that, he will be hosted by a
CEO of the US," Del Rosario said during a press briefing in
Malacanang.
"His host at this time in the evening will be the chairman of
Microsoft, Mr. Craig Mundie. He will be the only head of state to be
hosted by Microsoft and together with him are 10 other CEOs," she
added.
Del Rosario said that this sends a signal to the Aquino administration
that Microsoft is interested in the Philippines.
"They want to be able to talk to the President about certain matters
that are of importance to us as an economy and to them as a
corporation," she said.
The following day, President Aquino will attend the AELM. He will also
participate in the APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC) Dialogue with
Leaders.
The dialogue gives ABAC members the opportunity to meet with APEC
leaders to discuss the entire year's ABAC work program and to raise
issues of pressing concern to the business community.
"The President or the heads of economies will also meet with the ABAC,
Business Advisory Council. They will have a dialogue and maybe come
out with their own concerns," she said.
"This is where the private sector will tell the heads of the
governments: this is what we want you to do; this is what we want you
to pursue," the Foreign Affairs undersecretary added.
ABAC Philippines is represented by Ayala Corporation chairman and
chief executive officer (CEO) Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala, Jollibee
Foods Corporation and CEO Tony Tan Caktiong and A. Magsaysay Inc.
president and CEO Doris Magsaysay Ho.
It is also at the AELM where the Economic Leaders take the traditional
APEC Family Photo, signifying the member economies' continuing
commitment towards improved trade and investment in Asia-Pacific
region.
The APEC Leaders' Week starts on November 8 with the Concluding Senior
Officials' Meeting attended by the APEC Senior Officials from the 21
member economies.
The Finance Ministers' Meeting will be on November 10 to discuss and
finalize the Finance Ministers' Statement. The Philippines will be
represented by Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima.
The APEC Ministerial Meeting (AMM) on November 11, on the other hand,
will include a review on the progress of the APEC 2011 agenda and some
issue-specific discussions.
Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario and Trade and Industry
Secretary Gregory Domingo will represent the Philippines in the said
meeting.
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