This year, ABAC adopted the theme “Integration, Innovation, and Inclusion”.
The 2020 work program will focus on the following priorities:
- Accelerating trade and Investment Liberalisation by enabling FTAAP.
- Strengthening APEC’s commitment to Rules-Based Multilateral Trading System.
- Promoting Trade and Services Competitiveness and Facilitation.
- Shaping a versatile and sustainable APEC Innovative Society through Digital Transformation, notably through Artificial Intelligence (AI) adoption.
- Maximizing Human Capital Potential for the Digital Future.
- Advancing Digital Transformation, including the shift to a low-carbon economy.
- Promoting Inclusive Economic Growth for MSMEs, Social Enterprise, Women, Youth and Underrepresented Groups via facilitating entry into global markets and new innovation in the Digital Era.
- Building Resilient and Sustainable communities by promoting Green Growth, addressing climate change, and strengthening Food and Energy Security.
- Driving a seamless and comprehensively connected Asia-Pacific balanced on physical connectivity, institutional connectivity and people-to-people connectivity.
Detailed recommendations will be developed during the course of 2020 on the 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.
