APEC Auto Dialogue to reiterate SME integration

The Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Automotive Dialogue will again tackle the integration of small medium enterprises (SMEs) into the global value chains in Cebu City later this week.

In a statement, Trade and Industry Assistant Secretary Rafaelita M. Aldaba said the automotive dialogue will aim to encourage the 21 member APEC economies to move toward more integrated regional and global approaches to automotive policies.

Albada said the dialogue is an avenue for APEC member economy officials and senior industry representatives to collaborate in the formulation of strategies to bring to a higher level the integration and development of the automotive sector within the region.

During the dialogue, officials and senior industry representatives of various APEC member economies will also update participants of ongoing and new APEC projects, the trade official said.

New projects for discussion include “Business Model Research and Best Practice Sharing on the Promotion and Commercialization of New Energy Buses,” “Talent Communication Mechanism of Automotive Industry within the Asia Pacific Region”, and “APEC Automotive List.” The APEC automotive dialogue, a bi-annual event, will be attended by more than 100 participants from from Australia, Canada, China, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, Peru, Philippines, Chinese Taipei, Thailand, Viet Nam and the United States.

In a related development, the Philippines said that it will push for the implementation of a two-year capacity-building training program for APEC regulators in the forthcoming 15th APEC Chemical Dialogue (CD) in Cebu City. (CSL)