Philippines prepares to host Asia-Pacific Women and Economy Summit in 2015

In 1996, The Women Leaders Network (WLN) of APEC was founded in Manila, Philippines, as an informal, dynamic network which brings together women leaders from all sectors, public, private, academia, civil society, indigenous, rural and women in technology, to provide policy recommendations to APEC officials. Coming full circle, in 2015, The Philippine is preparing to host the APEC Women and the Economy Summit (APEC WES) and will bring in close to 1,000 women leaders from all over the world.

A National Organizing Committee (NOC), composed of the DTI, Philippine Commission for Women (PCW), Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and the Women’s Business Council Philippines (WBCP), will oversee country preparations for the APEC WES, a major ministerial meeting in September 2015. A memorandum of agreement was signed to form the NOC, with DTI Undersecretary Nora Terrado and Private Sector representative from the Women Business Council, Ambassador Delia Albert, co-chairing the APEC WES NOC. The group will specifically focus on establishing a functional secretariat and core team composed of representatives from the government, non-government and private sector for the management, implementation and oversight of APEC-WES.

The Philippines initiative for APEC WES is THE GREAT WOMEN PLATFORM & BRAND. The GREAT Women Platform is a convergence of national, local, NGOs, women’s groups and private sector groups resulting in outcomes in improved local business policy, projects and services for women’s businesses. GREAT Women (otherwise known as Gender Responsive Economic Actions for the Transformation of Women) is an integrated platform to address the “gender issues” in both micro and social enterprise development and deliver a truly inclusive economic development as it helps women up the supply and value chain, incorporating ICT in its programs. The Philippine Commission for Women (PCW) takes the lead on the Platform Development while the ECHOsi Foundation, the private sector partner, takes the lead on the Brand development.

The APEC WES in 2015 will be attended by representatives from 21 APEC member countries, namely, Australia; Brunei Darussalam; Canada; Chile; People’s Republic of China; Hong Kong, China; Indonesia; Japan; Republic of Korea; Malaysia; Mexico; New Zealand; Papua New Guinea; Peru; The Republic of the Philippines; The Russian Federation; Singapore; Chinese Taipei; Thailand; United States of America; Viet Nam.