Phl hosting of APEC 2015 to highlight economic growth

MANILA, Philippines - Hosting the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in 2015 gives the Philippines a chance to highlight all the positive changes and economic growth that have taken place since the country last hosted APEC in 1996, a United States embassy official said.

“Filipinos are justifiably proud of their country’s growth and dynamism, and APEC gives them a turn at the center of the world stage,” embassy Chargé d’Affaires Brian Goldbeck said in his speech during the annual meeting of the American Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (AmCham) on Wednesday.

Goldbeck noted that hosting APEC would be a massive undertaking, with more than one hundred APEC meetings, including the APEC leaders’ meeting, in November next year.

“We look forward to working with the Philippine government and with AmCham as the Philippines embarks on the work of hosting APEC,” he added. 

The US also looks forward to discussions on how APEC-member economies can work to ensure that the benefits of international commerce and economic growth are felt throughout the economy, including by entrepreneurs and small and medium enterprises. 

“Realizing the full potential of these groups is essential to sustained economic growth across the breadth of society, and we are looking forward to some good discussions,” Goldbeck said.

APEC will also launch the APEC scholarships, a one-year scholarship that will allow students from APEC’s 21 member economies to study in another member economy. 

Goldbeck said that the US expects that these scholarships would lead to increased mutual understanding between citizens of different APEC members and increased trade and cooperation down the road. 

“We will be reaching out to AmCham to discuss ways in which you can support the scholarship program,” he added.