2018/SOM3/018 Agenda Item: 7. SCE Chair s Report. Purpose: Consideration Submitted by: SCE Chair

Transcription

1 2018/SOM3/018 Agenda Item: 7 SCE Chair s Report Purpose: Consideration Submitted by: SCE Chair Third Senior Officials Meeting Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea August 2018

2 SCE Chair s Report to SOM Executive Summary This report presents the major outcomes of the third meeting of the Senior Official s Committee on Economic and Technical Cooperation (SCE) held on 18 August 2018 in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea. Actions Requested of SOM Senior Officials to: Note the Updated APEC Consolidated Counter-Terrorism and Secure Trade paper. Note this report by the SCE Chair. Executive Summary The SOM Steering Committee on ECOTECH (SCE) met in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, on 18 August Key meeting outcomes were: 1. The SCE noted the Secretariat s update on the fora assessment process and endorsed the fora assessment schedule proposed by Fora Assessment Team and requested volunteers for the 2019 Fora Assessment Team Canada; China; and Chinese Taipei volunteered to join the automatic members, Chile; Malaysia; and New Zealand to comprise the 2019 Fora Assessment Team. 2. SCE noted that one (1) Concept Note seeking funding from the Connectivity Sub Fund has received in principle approval from BMC. BMC was unable to achieve consensus on Concept Note eligibility for the ASF Sub Funds on Human Security and on Innovative Development, Economic Reform and Growth; and will seek guidance from SOM. 3. SCE has endorsed the Secretariat s proposal to streamline the Senior Officials Report on Economic and Technical Cooperation. 4. SCE endorsed the Transportation Working Group (TPTWG) Strategic Plan SCE considered next steps with respect to the Terms of Reference of Group of Friends on Disability and the Mining Task Force, whose current mandates will expire by 2018, and will continue to discuss next steps intersessionally. SCE considered the United States proposal on Sustaining and Mainstreaming the Disability Agenda in APEC and will continue to discuss intersessionally. 6. SCE noted the Annual Fora Report of the Telecommunications and Information Working Group and will review intersessionally. 1

3 7. SCE noted Russia s initiative on Bridging the Gap in Economic Development and Integration of Remote Areas for Sustainable Growth in the APEC Region. 8. SCE noted the Policy Support Unit (PSU) update on the Study to Support Initiatives on Economic Development in Remote Areas. 9. SCE noted the Australia proposal to establish a new sub fund for Economic Development in Remote Areas. Discussion will continue intersessionally. 10. SCE noted an update from Papua New Guinea on Harnessing Growth in the Resources Sector. 11. SCE noted China and Papua New Guinea s co proposed initiative (with Chile co sponsoring) on Poverty Alleviation through Internet and Digital Economy for Inclusive Development. Discussion will continue intersessionally. 12. SCE noted the upcoming Thailand self funded project APEC Strategy for Green, Sustainable and Innovative MSMEs scheduled for 4 6 September in Chiang Mai, Thailand. This is a cross fora collaboration with both SMEWG and TWG involvement. 13. SCE noted Thailand s update on the Draft Framework on Securing the Digital Economy with Telecommunications and Information Working Group (TELWG) s intention to endorse the Framework at its 58 th Meeting (TEL58) in September SCE noted the Updated APEC Consolidated Counter Terrorism and Secure Trade Strategy paper presented by the Counter Terrorism Working Group Recommendations It is recommended that SOM: 1. Note the Updated APEC Consolidated Counter Terrorism and Secure Trade paper. 2. Note this report. 2

4 Summary Report SOM Steering Committee on ECOTECH 18 August 2018 Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea 1. The third meeting of the SOM Steering Committee on ECOTECH (SCE) met in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, on 18 August APEC economies were represented. 2. The meeting was chaired by Mr Mathias Francke, Senior Official of Chile. Vice Chair was Jacinta Waraka Manua, Deputy Secretary (Policy), Department of Foreign Affairs, Papua New Guinea. SCE Fora Assessment 3. The Secretariat updated the SCE on progress with respect to 2018 fora assessments. The Secretariat noted that draft assessment reports on the four sub fora were assessed in 2018 CTWG, EWG, HRDWG, and GOFD; the 2018 Fora Assessment Team has recommended the fora assessment schedule for 2019 and The Fora Assessment Team will be working intersesionally to develop addition recommendations to SCE regarding the standardized fora assessment template. Project Session 1. Concept Notes 4. SCE noted that one concept note has received in principle funding from BMC from the ASF Connectivity sub fund. BMC was unable to reach consensus on the Human Security and Innovative Development, Economic Reform and Growth (IERG) sub fund concept notes and will seek guidance from SOM ECOTECH Report 5. SCE endorsed the Secretariat s proposal to streamline the Senior Officials Report on Economic and Technical Cooperation to increase readability and reduce redundancy. Sub Fora Strategic Plans 6. SCE endorsed the Strategic Plan of the Transportation Working Group. SCE noted that there are four sub fora strategic plans expiring in The SCE also noted that while Strategic Plans are not required, they are best practice and strongly encouraged all sub fora to have current strategic plans. Sub Fora Terms of Reference 7. The SCE noted that the Group of Friends on Disability and the Mining Task Force Terms of Reference/mandate expire at the end of The SCE had a wide ranging discussion about renewing the GoFD and MTF ToRs/mandate. The Chair remarked that the Terms of Reference/mandate for each sub fora should be treated individually. That work will continue intersessionally. 3

5 Sub Fora Reports 8. SCE noted that all sub fora have approved 2018 work plans and encouraged all sub fora begin drafting their 2019 work plans. Reports of Sub Fora 9. SCE noted the Annual Fora Report of the Telecommunications and Information Working Group (TELWG). This Annual Fora Report will be considered intersessionally along with the remaining fora reports of the SCE sub fora. SCE noted that these reports are due two months prior to the Concluding Senior Officials Meeting (CSOM), 12 September Bridging the Gap in Economic Development and Integration of Remote Areas for Sustainable Growth in the APEC Region 10. SCE noted Russia s presentation on their initiative on Bridging the Gap in Economic Development and Integration of Remote Areas for Sustainable Growth in the APEC Region. SCE awaits the timing of Russia s self funded project of hosting a SCE APEC Public Private Dialogue on Remote Areas Development in the Digital Era. PSU Study Development and Integration of Remote Areas in the APEC Region 11. SCE noted the PSU brief on their ongoing research on development and integration of remote areas in the APEC region. Sub Fund to Support Initiatives on Economic Development in Remote Areas 12. SCE noted Australia s proposal to establish a sub fund for Economic Development in Remote Areas. SCE will continue to discuss Australia s proposal intersessionally. Harnessing Growth in the Resources Sector in the APEC Region 13. SCE noted Papua New Guinea s update on the recent SOM Level Dialogue on Harnessing Growth the in the Resources Sector. SCE committed to further discussing the sustainable development of the resources sector intersessionally. Initiative on Poverty Alleviation through Internet and Digital Economy for Inclusive Development 14. SCE noted China and Papua New Guinea s co proposed initiative (with Chile co sponsoring) on Initiative on Poverty Alleviation Through Internet and Digital Economy for Inclusive Development. The proposal will be discussed intersessionally. Implementation of APEC Strategy for Green Sustainable and Innovative MSMEs 15. SCE noted Thailand s (co sponsored by Philippines; Russia; Singapore; Chinese Taipei; and Viet Nam) self funded project on cross fora collaboration between SMEWG and TWG to implement the APEC Strategy for Green, Sustainable and Innovative MSMEs scheduled for 4 6 September in Chiang Mai, Thailand. Economies expressed support and anticipation for this brainstorming workshop. 4

6 Progress on Draft Framework on Securing Digital Economy 16. SCE noted Thailand s update on the Draft Framework on Securing the Digital Economy with the understanding that the TELWG will seek to finalize the Draft Framework in September 2018 at TEL 58 in Chinese Taipei. Updated APEC Consolidated Counter Terrorism and Secure Trade Strategy 17. SCE noted the Updated APEC Consolidated Counter Terrorism and Secure Trade Strategy presented by the CTWG Interim Chair, Tony Kaib, Director General of Office of Security Coordination and Assessment, Papua New Guinea. Russia welcomed the updated Strategy as a testimony to the importance of APEC s work to insure growth security, which should continue to be in the focus of APEC s attention moving forward, including in the post 2020 period. Next SCE Meeting 18. SCE would hold its first meeting of 2019 in the margins of SOM1 in the Chile in early Mathias Franke SCE Chair August