DEC. 12, 2018

President Piñera introduces APEC Chile 2019: “When countries integrate, they bring out the best in themselves and so everyone wins”

The President set as priorities addressing the technological revolution, increasing integration between the economies, stimulating inclusive growth and dealing with climate change. “One of the most important priorities for APEC 2019 will be to learn how we help one another to fully take advantage and integrate,” stated the President.

On Wednesday, President Sebastián Piñera presided over the launch of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum for 2019, which will be hosted by Chile. He highlighted that “the time has come for APEC to fulfill its destiny as the biggest, most innovative, inclusive and prosperous free trade initiative.”

The forum will include over 200 meetings in Santiago, Valparaíso, Puerto Varas and Concepción. One of its cornerstones will be to take charge of technological evolution.

“When countries integrate, they bring out the best in themselves and so everyone wins,” said the President, at a ceremony in La Moneda Palace prior to the first meeting in Chile of representatives from APEC member economies. “One of the most important priorities for APEC 2019 will be to learn how we help one another to fully take advantage of and integrate with this technological revolution and this knowledge and information society,” he added.

The forum will also foster further integration between the economies and the promotion of inclusive growth focused on the development of small- and medium-sized companies and women” so that they too can take full advantage of the benefits that come with the APEC initiative.”

The forum also seeks to address climate change and global warming through promoting sustainable growth.

“APEC needs to be a Forum of Cooperation, an incubator of ideas, a place where we can anticipate what is going to come, exchange experiences and develop the disciplines that will enable us to address the great challenges and seize the great opportunities that the future has in store for us,” emphasized the President.

Together, the 21 APEC economies represent the world’s most dynamic economic region with 40% of the world’s population, 60% of global GDP and 50% of total trade.

Chile entered APEC in 1994 and since then has participated actively in promoting free and open trade in the Asia-Pacific region through the signing of 16 trade agreements.