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About ABAC

Mandate

APEC Leaders, in 1995, established the APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC) tasked to provide private sector perspective towards achieving free and open trade and investments in the Asia Pacific region (Bogor goals). In 2020, Leaders adopted the Putrajaya Vision, for an open, dynamic, resilient and peaceful Asia-Pacific community by 2040, for the prosperity of all our people and future generations.

The Council had its first meeting and dialogue with the Leaders in 1996, when the Philippines first chaired APEC. Ambassador Roberto Romulo of the Philippines served as ABAC’s founding chairman.

Every year, ABAC submits a Report to APEC Leaders which outlines key recommendations focused on regional economic integration. ABAC also engages with Ministers, especially those responsible for Trade, Finance, SME, Energy, Food Security, Health, and Women to address urgent challenges.

Structure

ABAC is composed of three executives per economy, appointed by the respective President or Prime Minister, and their designated alternates. The members meet four times a year, one every quarter, each running 3-4 days.

As the voice of business in the region, ABAC provides advice to Leaders – recommending policy and regulatory reforms, as well as initiatives that would help achieve APEC Goals. This is essentially done at the ABAC Dialogue with Leaders which takes place during the Annual Economic Leaders Meeting.

There is also a Dialogue with APEC Senior Officials during the first ABAC meeting of the year. ABAC reports to APEC officials every after ABAC meeting for updates and alignments.

Work Program

The 2026 Work Program, under the chairmanship of China with the theme: “Openness, Innovation, and Cooperation,” will have the following priorities: 

Regional Economic Integration Working Group 

  • Robust, resilient and open economic architecture
  • Unlocking pathways to prosperity: Access and Opportunity 
  • Future-proofing trade: The new digital and green economies 

      Sustainability Working Group 

      • Enhancing Food Security and Agri-Tech Innovation 
      • Achieving Smarter and Inclusive Healthcare
      • Promoting Resilience and Sustainability in Mining 
      • Enabling Realistic and Just Energy Transitions 

            Digital and Innovation Working Group 

            • AI Applied (AI+): AI solutions that transform traditional industries and empower underserved communities 
            • AI and the Future of Work: Impact, training & adaptability 
            • Trusted & Resilient Foundations: cybersecurity & secure, sustainable digital infrastructure 
            • Digital Now & Next: Foster knowledge exchange and foresight 

                   Connectivity Working Group 

                  • Physical Connectivity – supporting new APEC Connectivity Blueprint, supply chain connectivity cooperation 
                  • Institutional Connectivity: trade facilitation, regulatory cooperation, and financial integration 
                  • People-to-People Connectivity: skills, mobility, and inclusion 

                      Finance and Economics Task Force 

                      • Financing transition to secure, efficient and clean energy systems 
                      • Building ecosystems for expanded access to digital finance 
                      • Promoting regionally integrated digital trade finance, payment, settlement and clearing infrastructure 
                      • Expanding private financing for regional resilience 
                      • Supporting implementation of the Finance Ministers’ Incheon Plan 

                              Detailed recommendations will be developed during the course of 2026 on priorities identified in the work program. ABAC’s recommendations will be conveyed to APEC governments through a range of avenues including to APEC Senior Officials, Trade, SME and Finance Ministers and directly to APEC Economic Leaders at the annual Dialogue with APEC Leaders. 

                              Lance Y. Gokongwei
                              JG Summit Holdings
                              President & CEO
                              ABAC Member 2016-2020
                              Doris Magsaysay Ho
                              Magsaysay Group of Companies
                              President & CEO
                              ABAC Member 2006-2016
                              Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala
                              Ayala Corporation
                              Chairman & CEO
                              ABAC Member 2010-2016
                              Tony Tan Caktiong
                              Jollibee Foods Corporation
                              Chairman & Founder
                              ABAC Member 2010-2016
                              William Tan Untiong
                              Jollibee Foods Corporation
                              Chief Real Estate Exec/ Secy
                              ABAC Member 2010-2016
                              Roberto R. Romulo
                              AIG (Philippines) Insurance Co.
                              Chairman
                              ABAC Member 1996-2010
                              Arthur Ty
                              GT Capital Holdings, Inc.
                              Chairman
                              ABAC Member 2007-2010
                              Benigno M. Ricafort
                              Management Centre & Resource Group
                              Chairman
                              ABAC Member 1996-2007
                              Teresita Sy-Coson
                              SM Investments Corporation
                              Vice Chairperson
                              ABAC Member 2004-2005
                              Myrna Tang-Yao
                              Richwell Trading Corporation
                              President & CEO
                              ABAC Member 2005
                              Imelda M. Nicolas
                              Commision on FilipinosOverseas (CFO)
                              Chairperson
                              ABAC Member 2001-2002
                              Luis P. Lorenzo Jr.
                              ABAC Member 2001-2002
                              Jose Luis Yulo Jr.
                              Chamber of Commerce of the Philippine Islands
                              President
                              ABAC Member 1996-2001