APEC Philippines 2015
APEC Philippines 2015 is the year-long hosting of Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meetings in the Philippines, which will culminate with the APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting from November 18 to 19, 2015 in Manila.[1] It marks the second time the Philippines will be playing host to the APEC, having hosted the event previously in 1996.
Preparations
Preparations for APEC 2015 began with the signing of Administrative Order No. 36, s. 2012,[2] which constituted the APEC 2015 National Organizing Committee.
On December 1, 2014, President Benigno Aquino III led the APEC 2015 national launch at a dinner event in Makati City.[3] The official APEC 2015 logo and theme, Building Inclusive Economies, Building a Better World, were unveiled during the event, as well as its official Facebook and Twitter accounts.
As part of the security measures for the APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting, the government declared November 18 and 19, 2015 as special (non-working) days in Metro Manila.[4]
Events
Makati City in Metro Manila hosted the first APEC 2015 meeting, the Informal Senior Officials' Meeting (ISOM), from December 8 to 9, 2014. Originally slated to be held in Legazpi City, Albay, the meeting was transferred to Makati as storm signals were raised in the former due to Typhoon Ruby.[5] During the meeting, the Philippines' priorities for APEC 2015 meetings were approved, namely:
- investing in human capital development
- fostering small and medium enterprises (SMEs) participation in regional and global markets
- building sustainable and resilient communities
- enhancing the regional economic integration agenda
The First Senior Officials' Meeting (SOM1) and Related Meetings were held in Clark Freeport, Pampanga and Subic Bay, Zambales, from January 26 to February 7, 2015.[6] The island of Boracay hosted the Second Senior Officials' Meeting (SOM2) and Related Meetings from May 9 to 21[7] and the APEC Ministers Responsible for Trade (MRT) Meeting from May 23 to 24.[8] The Third Senior Officials' Meeting (SOM3) and Related Meetings will be held in Cebu City from August 22 to September 6, to be followed by the APEC Finance Ministers' Meeting from September 10 to 11.
References
- ^ 2015 calendar | APEC Secretariat http://apec.org/Events-Calendar.aspx
- ^ Administrative Order No. 36, s. 2012 | Official Gazette of the Republic of the Philippines http://www.gov.ph/2012/11/28/administrative-order-no-36-s-2012/
- ^ Aquino leads APEC 2015 kick-off | ABS-CBN News.com http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/video/business/12/01/14/aquino-leads-apec-2015-kick
- ^ Proclamation No. 1072, s. 2015 | Official Gazette of the Republic of the Philippines http://www.gov.ph/2015/07/13/proclamation-no-1072-s-2015
- ^ Hagupit's first casualty: APEC meet in Albay | ABS-CBN News.com http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/regions/12/03/14/hagupits-first-casualty-apec-meet-albay
- ^ Senior APEC officials prepare for 'big party' | Philippine Daily Inquirer http://globalnation.inquirer.net/118421/senior-apec-officials-prepare-for-big-party/
- ^ PH holds APEC Senior Officials’ Meetings in Boracay | Manila Bulletin http://www.mb.com.ph/ph-government-holds-apec-senior-officials-meetings-in-boracay,
- ^ APEC trade ministers meet on inclusive growth | Rappler http://www.rappler.com/business/economy-watch/94217-apec-trade-ministers-meeting-boracay