PH lists priorities for AEM hosting

Flags of each country member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.
(Photo: ASEAN’s website)

MANILA— The Philippines has listed priority deliverables as it chairs the 49th ASEAN Economic Ministers’ Meeting (AEM) and Related Meetings here.

Among the priority deliverables that the country eyed for this AEM include strategic measures for an ASEAN-wide Self-Certification Scheme; pushing for ASEAN Seamless Trade Facilitation Indicators (ASTFI) and Review Mechanism for ASEA Economic Community (AEC) to monitor each member state’s compliance to the AEC commitments; ASEAN Trade in Services Agreement (ATISA) negotiations; strengthening investment flows in the region through the Focused and Strategic (FAST) Action Agenda on Investment; and launching the ASEAN Roll-on Roll-off Shipping Network.

The measures support one of the thematic priorities of the country’s ASEAN chairmanship of inclusive and innovation-led growth.

Economic ministers and other delegates for the 49th AEM Meeting and Related Meetings will be arriving in the country this week for their meeting that will run from Sept. 6 to 11 in Pasay City.

Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez will be chairing the 49th AEM.

“At the end of the day, what we will value is how these meetings concretely translate to creating more and better opportunities for ASEAN citizens to experience inclusive growth that leads to region-wide prosperity, as we partner for change and engage the world,” Lopez noted.

The ASEAN economic ministers will also have discussions with their counterparts from Australia, Canada, China, Hong Kong, India, Japan, Korea, New Zealand, Russia, and the United States to tackle measures to advance regional economic development.

The economic ministers will also engage in a dialogue with the private sector and business councils such as ASEAN Business Advisory Council , Canada-ASEAN Business Council, ASEAN-Korea Business Council, US-ASEAN Business Council , Australian Chamber of Commerce, Australia-New Zealand Business Council , Federation of Japanese Chambers of Commerce and Industry Association, East Asia Business Council  and ASEAN-India Business Council.