Thailand meets with New Zealand as Kingdom gears up for APEC Chairmanship in 2022

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By Panod Srisinsuphya

   

(NNT) - Deputy Prime Minister and Commerce Minister Jurin Laksanawisit has met with New Zealand’s Trade Minister Damien O’Connor virtually as Thailand gears to receive the torch from New Zealand as the next APEC Chair.

 

Jurin shared that during the conference, he and his New Zealand counterpart were able to discuss various trade details and strategies while assuring New Zealand that Thailand fully supports joint statements set to be issued by the pact for all member state to cooperate, which includes the Declaration on Facilitating the Movement of Essential Goods by the APEC Ministers Responsible for Trade (MRT), as well as other agreements pertaining to trade politics to overcome the health and economic challenges of COVID-19; support for multilateral trade, especially in the form of WTO; a New Zealand-led proposal for APEC members to eliminate all tariffs on the import of goods essential for fighting COVID-19, such as face masks, syringes, and other medical supplies to make sure all member nations have sufficient supplies; as well as support from all member governments to facilitate the flow of logistics, so all countries are able to have a balanced supply.

 

On June 5, 2021, Ministers Responsible for Trade are set to meet virtually to discuss details to pave the way for the full APEC Ministers’ Meeting scheduled for November.

 

As for Thailand’s chairmanship next year, the organizing committee agreed that the year 2022 would be a post-COVID-19 era in which the world will regain its dynamism with the widespread use of COVID-19 vaccinations and economic recovery with digital technology playing a vital role in the economic system. At the same time, the disparity between regional economic blocs may occur with the rising issue of digital technology accessibility.

 

Thailand has unofficially set the theme of APEC 2022, which includes the paradigm shift in the global economic system and the hopes of people in the APEC Community - looking forward to regional cooperation for sustainable and inclusive growth.

 

Thailand is set to drive three priorities during its APEC host year, namely, (1) facilitating trade and investment in a conducive ecosystem utilizing appropriate economic tools, (2) rebooting regional connectivity, particularly in the travel and tourism industry, and (3) advancing sustainable and inclusive growth, focusing on eliminating inequalities and protecting the environment. Digital technology and innovation will be key tools for driving and realizing these priorities.

 

Thailand will officially announce the theme and priorities as host of APEC in 2022 after the handover from New Zealand as host of APEC in 2021 during the APEC Leaders’ Meeting week in November this year.

 

The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), which started in 1989, comprises 21 member nations that promote free trade throughout the Asia-Pacific region.

 

Thailand’s export value to the pact is worth 10 trillion baht, accounting for 70% of the country’s total exports.

 

-- © Copyright NNT 2021-05-18

 

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