Thailand’s private sector is preparing to host the APEC Business Advisory Council in 2022 (ABAC 2022) under the concept of “Embrace, Engage and Enable” and using the traditional “Dok Loi” pattern, which is based on a Thai artistic style which pertains to a period of blooming.
Last Friday, Thailand took over the rotating chairmanship of Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) for 2022 from New Zealand, with its theme “Open. Connect. Balance.” To symbolise the handover, New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern gave Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha a Maori waka (canoe) paddle.
ABAC Thailand Member and APEC CEO Summit 2022 Chair Poj Aramwattananont said at a press conference today (Wednesday) that the APEC CEO Summit will be held in late October to early November, 2022.
Chairman of The Federation of Thai Industries (FTI) and chairman of the APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC) Supant Mongkolsuthree explained that ABAC is responsible for providing advice to economic zone leaders on the implementation of liberalisation and facilitation of trade and investment. It has 63 members, appointed by the leaders of each economic zone, 3 members per zone from the 21 economies.
To prepare for ABAC 2022, and in cooperation with the Thai government, the ABAC 2022 Working Groups, with 4 working sub-groups, have been appointed, namely:
- The ABAC Executive Director Support 2022 Committee.
- The ABAC 2022 Event Organising Committee.
- The APEC CEO Summit 2022 Event Organising Committee.
- The ABAC 2022 Sponsorship Committee.
- The Joint Standing Committee on Commerce, Industry and Banking (JSCCIB), which is made up of The Federation of Thai Industries, The Thai Chamber of Commerce, the Board of Trade of Thailand and the Thai Bankers’ Association.
ABAC Thailand member Kobsak Duangdee, added that the APEC Digital Trade Symposium will be the first event to take place with Thailand as the host, with strong cooperation and support from the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) and Asia Pacific Financial Forum (APFF) under ABAC participation in the event and agenda. Senior executives and experts from important organisations around the world will be invited to address the symposium.
Established in 1989, APEC members include Australia, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand, the US, Indonesia, Japan, the Philippines, Canada, Malaysia, New Zealand, Brunei, China, Chile, Mexico, Vietnam, Peru, Russia, Papua New Guinea, Taiwan and Hong Kong.
The 2022 Summit will be hosted by Thailand for the third time.
