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According to an APEC Secretariat statement received here Tuesday, the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) is taking initiatives to link the dynamic region in a calibrated and measured manner as economies learn to live with coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19).

The APEC Secretariat stated that such measures are being taken because travel demand is likely to increase steadily this year.

Thani Thongphakdi, Thailand’s Permanent Secretary for Foreign Affairs and 2022 chair of the APEC Senior Officials stressed the importance of reconnecting the Asia-Pacific region to support recovery in his speech to senior officials and business leaders from 21 APEC member economies last week in Singapore.

“Thailand acknowledges the importance of reuniting the region in order to aid economic recovery. “A Safe Passage Task Force was formed to coordinate the resumption of cross-border travel after the region’s business leaders recommended it to APEC leaders last year,” Thongphakdi said.

In the short term, he added, the task force’s goal was to reopen cross-border travel safely and seamlessly, while trying to boost corporate mobility in the long run.

He continued, “The task group will engage subject matter experts by studying possible shared travel regulations and mutual acceptance of health certificates, as well as encouraging sustainable tourism.”

Thongphakdi stated that Thailand will continue discussions on widening the APEC Business Travel Card (ABTC) scheme and other innovative schemes to improve mobility for businesses and professionals traveling across APEC economies in the long run.

“By increasing our regional economic integration, we hope to keep the momentum of international collaboration going,” he continued. “Our discussion of the Asia-Pacific Free Commerce Area (FTAAP) has been a cornerstone in promoting regional trade and investment.”

In May 2022, a policy discussion on FTAAP will be placed to let member economies and business leaders to consider how regional economic integration should progress post-Covid.

Thongphakdi emphasized the necessity of including the APEC business community in the process.

“As our experts begin a new conversation on FTAAP, particularly on rising trade concerns post-Covid-19,” he said, “we invite business communities to contribute their ideas on what is needed in the changing scenario.”

On February 15-18, 2022, the first APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC) meeting was conducted in Singapore. The gathering drew up to 150 delegates in person, with the majority of APEC senior officials participating digitally.

APEC’s technical sessions are also taking place, with topics like food security, the ocean and fisheries, the digital economy, market access, and business mobility being discussed.

The Senior Officials’ Meeting, which will take place on February 24-25, 2022, will be the culmination of these deliberations.

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