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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. 

                              Christine Violago

                              Delegate, APEC VOF Singapore (2009) and Japan (2010); Educator, APEC VOF Peru (2016)

                              “Our government leaders will come and go, and there will be new economic trends. But if we continue to invest on education and encourage the youth to be active participants in their communities, internationally or locally, then we can trust that the future of world will be bright indeed. “

                              Mark Lozano

                              Delegate, APEC VOF Indonesia (2013); Delegate, APEC VOF China (2014)

                              “Social prosperity comes from empowering people and businesses.”

                              Andre Flores

                              Delegate, APEC VOF Philippines (2015)

                              “Sustainable development can be achieved when people and communities work together and chart tangible ways to ensure no one is left behind. Engaging the vigor and ideas of the youth is one of the key steps towards more inclusivity in global and local discussions on development.”

                              Katherine Khoo

                              Delegate, APEC VOF Philippines (2015)

                              “Having the opportunity to interact with and listen to entrepreneurs, CEOs, heads of states, and other thought leaders widened my perspective about the world and eventually led me to the path of supporting impact entrepreneurs in my career. “

                              Paolo Monteiro

                              Educator, APEC VOF Philippines (2015)

                              “Two big lessons: One, certainly the youth have an intrinsic and critical role to play in shaping the Asia Pacific, as they will most probably be its leaders in the foreseeable future. Second, complex global problems require global solutions. These global solutions can only be unearthed through close cooperation and deep partnerships, which can only be made possible by productive and constructive dialogue between peers. “

                              Lord Leomer Pomperada

                              Delegate, APEC VOF Philippines (2015)

                              “Young people are already the leaders of today. They are spearheading various projects that contribute to positive change in their own societies.”

                              Dana Uson

                              Delegate, APEC VOF Philippines (2015)

                              “The APEC VOF program provided an interesting view of the long process behind dialogue and multinational cooperation. The theme at that time was centered on supporting SMEs and building sustainable and resilient communities, and hearing first hand the accounts from representatives of other economies emphasized that solutions are never a one size fits all.”

                              John Kenneth Wu

                              Delegate, APEC VOF Philippines (2015)

                              “As I move forward to be a public servant, this experience reminds me to be a catalyst of change. I will continue to be a voice, not only in the past or the present, but more importantly in the future. We are the Voices of the Future!”

                              Randell Aranza

                              Delegate, APEC VOF Peru (2016)

                              “Having a dialogue in an environment conducive to different perspectives can lead to a breakthrough in understanding and commitments that transcend the needs of various economies. “

                              Raiza Kiana Tiwan

                              Head Delegate, APEC Virtual VOF (2021)

                              “I believe that old doors won’t open new ways. There is a profound need for us to join together for the betterment of our environment and our people.”

                              John Mark Jacinto

                              Delegate, APEC Virtual VOF (2021)

                              “As Filipino delegates of this prestigious gathering, we must take this both as an opportunity and a challenge to our fellow youths. It is an opportunity as we are able to impart our learnings and insights to them, but it is also a challenge as we need to ensure that we are able to localize it effectively, and continue engaging with different stakeholders to build a better future for the Philippines and for APEC.“

                              Emmanuel Mirus Ponon

                              Delegate, APEC Virtual VOF (2021)

                              “The youth must effectively use their voice to amplify others, disrupt vulnerabilities, and unify people closer together for a purpose greater than themselves, for the environment, society, and future generations.“

                              Sydney Joseph Torrenueva

                              Delegate, APEC Virtual VOF (2021)

                              “Amidst common adversities, our greatest strength lies in unity and collective decision-making. Breaking barriers and transcending the borders of our differences allow us to uplift more people and humanity. Ultimately, in crystallizing the vision of a more connected world.“

                              Ryan Alabado

                              Educator, APEC Virtual VOF (2021)

                              ” As an educator, I always believed in the capacity of the youths to create significant impacts on the world. So, they must be involved, guided, and heard since it is worth listening to their voices.“

                                The APEC Voices of the Future (VOF) is an annual program which brings together young people and educators from the 21 APEC Participating Economies to attend the APEC Summit.

                                During the course of the program, the delegates will be able to learn and share their views on APEC issues concerning their future with APEC leaders, ministers, and business leaders. By working and learning together, the APEC VOF teams share their views on the APEC vision with APEC Leaders, Senior Officials, APAC Members and CEOs. Through their participation in the APEC process, APEC Voices delegates are given the rare opportunity to have important dialogues with top policymakers and business leaders to foster cooperation and prosperity in the classrooms and communities in the Asia-Pacific Region.

                                The APEC VOF 2015 was held in Manila, Philippines, in conjunction with the APEC CEO Summit 2015. Around 120-150 delegates from the various member economies attended APEC Voices 2015.

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