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PBBM urges APEC leaders to act on shipping, logistics issues
![President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.](https://canadianinquirer.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/President-Ferdinand-R.-Marcos-Jr.-3.jpg)
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. attends the APEC Leaders’ Informal Dialogue on Friday, November 18, 2022. (OPS Photo)
MANILA – President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Friday asked his fellow Asia-Pacific leaders to pay close attention to issues besetting the shipping and logistics services in the region.
Marcos made the call during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Leaders’ Informal Dialogue in Bangkok, Thailand, as he recognized the shipping and logistics sector’s role as the “backbone of global trade and investment.”
“Shipping and logistics services are the backbone of global trade and investment and yet, we have not paid them ample attention,” President Marcos told the APEC members.
Marcos, whose campaign promise is to make the Philippines a shipping and logistics hub in Asia, lamented the logistical challenges being faced by product transporters.
Citing the Philippines’ case, Marcos said businesses in the country absorb up to 30 percent of costs from logistics alone, having “one of the highest rates in the region.”
“With logistics being a pivotal part of supply chains, this limits the integration of our products in global value chains and cuts our access to critical raw materials,” Marcos said.
Marcos said APEC should find ways to “eliminate all forms of discrimination”, especially for products coming from micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs).
He added that there are ways to address non-trade and other related measures without depriving businesses and MSMEs of access and participation in supply chains.
Marcos said closer cooperation with businesses, especially MSMEs, would help improve their capacity and foster a “competitive environment.”
“We look to this forum as a platform to share best practices,” Marcos said.
“By ensuring that our MSMEs participate in global supply chains, we will have diversified our supply sources, we will have enhanced sustainable and inclusive growth, and strengthened the competitiveness of our economies,” he added.
During the Retreat Session of the APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting, Marcos also sought the digital inclusion of MSMEs to help them reach a wider market and ensure its “increased resilience and productivity.”
To ensure “robust and resilient” global supply chains and post-pandemic recovery, Marcos also emphasized the vital role of maritime and transport industries.
Marcos said further discussions and cooperation between the two sectors are needed to address the issues on shipping and logistics services.