Noy off to Hawaii for APEC

MANILA, Philippines - President Aquino will attend the 19th Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Leaders’ Summit in Honolulu, Hawaii from Nov. 11 to 14.

The US government is the host of this year’s APEC, which is working towards the achievement of a “seamless regional economy.”

Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto del Rosario, Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima and Trade Secretary Gregory Domingo will accompany the President.

The Philippine delegation will push for the strengthening of regional economic integration and expanding trade by advancing “next-generation” trade and investment issues, promoting green growth and fostering job creation in green industries.

Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Laura del Rosario said that the issue regarding “expanding regulatory cooperation and advancing regulatory convergence” would also be presented.

Aquino will also participate in the APEC Business Advisory Council Dialogue with leaders, which gives members the opportunity to meet APEC leaders to raise issues of pressing concern to each country’s business community.

This could be the time when Aquino and US President Barack Obama might discuss issues concerning transparency in governance. Aquino attended last month the Open Governance Forum in New York.

Obama told Aquino at the forum last month that he wanted to talk to him more lengthily, but that he was pressed for time, as it was a UN General Assembly.

The US President hinted that this month’s APEC meeting might be the opportune time for them to talk.

APEC has 21 members, which includes the Philippines, and its total membership account for approximately 40 percent of the world’s population, approximately 54 percent of world gross domestic product and about 44 percent of world trade.

It is said to be the premier forum for facilitating economic growth, cooperation, trade and investment in the Asia-Pacific region.

President and chief executive officer Doris Magsaysay Ho of A. Magsaysay Inc., chairman and CEO Tony Tan Caktiong of Jollibee Foods Corp. and chairman and CEO Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala of Ayala Corp. will attend the APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC).

ABAC has adopted the theme “21 Economies for the 21st Century” with the sub-theme “Employing people and ideas for sustained growth in Asia-Pacific,” which reflects the ABAC 2011 objectives of helping APEC achieve progress.

Progress is aimed at regional economic integration; small and medium-scale enterprises, including micro-enterprises, and entrepreneurship; and sustainable development.