Manila, Philippines – With the aim of fostering economic recovery and boosting services competitiveness among cooperating economies, the Regional Economic Integration Working Group (REIWG) of the APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC) on Enhancing Trade and Services Investment will conduct a public-private dialogue with global thought leaders to exchange ideas and best practices on emerging services trends and opportunities.

“As new services emerge and disrupt value chains, there is an urgent need to ensure workers, entrepreneurs and small businesses are fully capable of adapting to change and navigating new ways of working” , said Sabin Aboitiz, President and CEO of the Aboitiz Group, co-chair of the ABAC REIWG and responsible for the services agenda.

Centered around the theme “Sharpen Your Edge: Skills and Services for the 21st Century”, the discussion will address increasingly digital service delivery and its impact on the future of the workplace as well as workforce capabilities. work.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the adoption of digital tools and channels, driving the transformation of service delivery,” Aboitiz explained. “APEC economies will need skilled workers who are future-ready, innovative, and fully capable of navigating new products and processes that will help the industry seize opportunities in new markets.”

As organizations and services become increasingly technology-driven, ABAC seeks to have in-depth discussions and develop policy recommendations that will ensure that human capital is fully capable of meeting the growing demands in the service sectors.

“Equipping the workforce and entrepreneurs with the skills to actively participate in emerging markets will be key to ensuring stable employment and more equitable and sustainable growth,” he added.

The forum moderator will be Professor Jane Drake-Brockman, founder and director of the Australian Services Roundtable, co-host of the Asia Pacific Services Coalition and a key figure in shaping the APEC Competitiveness Roadmap services.

The program, which will be moderated by Ginggay Hontiveros-Malvar, Director of Reputation and Sustainability at AEV, will feature two panels comprised of global leaders from the public and private sectors, as well as academia. Janos Ferencz, Trade Policy Analyst at the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), Dr. David Hardoon, Managing Director of Aboitiz Data Innovation, and Adam Bregu, Director of Business Development and Partnerships at Startup Genome.

Michelle Rubio, Executive Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer, UnionBank, Dr. Jikyeong Kang, President and Dean, Asian Institute of Management (AIM), Dr. Michael Fung, Executive Director, Institute for the Future of Education at Tecnologico de Monterrey, and Professor Dong Sun Park, Senior Shepherd of the APEC Human Resource Development Working Group (HRDWG). Closing message is Thomas Fine, Chairman of the APEC Group on Services (GOS) and Director of Services and Investment in the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR).

The ABAC public-private dialogue will be held on July 12, 2022 at 1:30 p.m. SGT and can be viewed via the Zoom Webinar platform. Click this link to register for the event.

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About Aboitiz Equity Ventures

Aboitiz Equity Ventures, Inc. (AEV) is the public holding company of the Aboitiz Group with major investments in electricity, banking and financial services, food, infrastructure and land. Today, AEV is recognized as one of the best managed companies in the Philippines and the region, consistently cited for its commitment to good corporate governance and corporate social responsibility. With five generations of Aboitiz Group business success behind it, AEV continues to drive change for a better world by advancing businesses and communities.