The Philippines will host the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) High Level Meeting on Maritime Security Cooperation (HLMMSC) on 08-09 September 2003 in Manila.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo announced this initiative at the 10th APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting (AELM) held in October 2002 in Los Cabos, Mexico. The President is expected to present the results of the Meeting at the 11th AELM to be held in Bangkok , Thailand on 20-21 October as RP’s direct response to the APEC Leaders’ calls to intensify cooperation to protect APEC’s infrastructure against terrorism, especially in the area of maritime trade through measures to protect cargo, ships, and people in transit.

Preserving maritime security is an issue of strategic importance to APEC economies. APEC’s 21 member economies represent one third of the world’s population (2.5 billion people), over 50% of world GDP (US$19.293 trillion), and in excess of 47% of world trade. In maritime trade, over 43% of containers entering the U.S. annually arrive from 11 Asian seaports within the world’s 20 megaports.

The Meeting is expected to deliver the following outcomes: (1) devise an APEC-wide framework/mechanism to enable an exchange of information in maritime security; (2) draw up a focused list of capacity-building needs of APEC economies related to the implementation of maritime security measures; (3) build a list of technology requirements for a secure maritime environment for each APEC economy; and (4) strengthen cooperative partnership with the private sector to enhance maritime trade and security in the APEC region.

The Incoming Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Mr. E.E. Mitropoulos and the chair of the APEC Counter-Terrorism Task Force (CTTF) Amb. Makarim Wibisono will lead a distinguished panel of speakers and panelists during the meeting. Mitropoulos will speak on the new international security requirements set by the IMO for the world’s maritime industry.  Makarim will outline the work of the CTTF, especially in the area of capacity building. Transportation and maritime experts from all 21 APEC member economies will attend the Meeting.

One of the highlights of the Meeting is the private sector’s participation.  An exhibit of the latest maritime security technologies from at least three companies will form part of the Meeting.  This will allow private companies to present their relevant technologies and enhance cooperation between the private sector and the APEC economies.

The Meeting was convened by the DFA’s Office of the Undersecretary for International Economic Relations (OUIER) as the APEC SOM Leader for the Philippines and the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA), which currently chairs the APEC Transportation Group.  END