Believing that collaboration with the neighboring partners, Department of Trade and Industry Secretary Ramon M. Lopez pushed for a deeper ASEAN economic integration as key for post-pandemic recovery
This was he underscored during the first day of the Fifty-Third Meeting of the ASEAN Economic Ministers’ (53rd AEM) was held yesterday, September 8 via video conference.
Trade Ministers discussed the status of post-COVID-19 economic recovery efforts and recognized the relevance of cooperation in the areas of digital transformation and sustainable economic development as key initiatives in achieving post-pandemic recovery. To this end, the Ministers adopted and endorsed key initiatives such as the Bandar Seri Begawan Roadmap on ASEAN Digital Transformation, Non-Tariff Measures (NTM) Toolkit, the establishment of the NTM Panel Rapporteurs, and the inclusion of rice in the Expanded List of Essential Goods, among others.
The Philippines was represented by DTI Secretary Ramon M. Lopez. He was joined by fellow Economic Ministers from the other ASEAN Member States and official representatives from the ASEAN Secretariat.