Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation
APEC
Important News and Updates
NESDC Participates in the 2nd APEC Economic Committee Meeting of 2025 to discuss the agenda for a strengthened APEC structural reform and issues of enhancing participation in the formal economy
On August 12-13, 2025, the Republic of Korea, as the APEC 2025 host, organized the 2nd APEC Economic Committee (EC) Meeting of 2025 during the Third Senior Officials’ Meeting and Related Meetings (SOM3) in Incheon, Republic of Korea. Ms. Sasithorn Palatthadech, Deputy Secretary-General of the National Economic and Social Development Council, led the Thai delegation […]
The 1st APEC Economic Committee Meeting of 2025 in Gyeongju, Republic of Korea
On March 3-4, 2025, the Republic of Korea, as the APEC 2025 host, organized the 1st APEC Economic Committee (EC) Meeting of 2025 during the First Senior Officials’ Meeting (SOM1) in Gyeongju, Republic of Korea. Mr. Danucha Pichayanan, Secretary-General of the National Economic and Social Development Council, led the Thai delegation in attending the Economic […]
APEC Economic Report 2024: Structural Reform and Financial Inclusion
The APEC Economic Policy Report 2024 (AEPR 2024) on Structural Reform and Financial Inclusion aims to promote structural reforms that support financial inclusion, which is a crucial component of sustainable, resilient, and inclusive economic growth. The report presents both demand-side and supply-side issues in financial access, focusing on implementing structural reforms to facilitate equitable access […]
The 2nd APEC Economic Committee Meeting of 2024 in Lima, Republic of Peru
On August 21-22, 2024, the Republic of Peru, as the host of APEC 2024, organized the 2nd APEC Economic Committee (EC) Meeting of 2024, which was part of the Third Senior Officials’ Meeting (SOM3) held from August 12-25, 2024, in Lima, Republic of Peru. Mr. Thatchai Keerapong Paiboon, Director of the International Strategy and Cooperation […]
APEC Economic Committee Meeting 1/2024 in Lima, Republic of Peru
On March 4-5, 2024, the Republic of Peru, as the APEC 2024 host, organized the APEC Economic Committee (EC) Meeting 1/2024, which was part of the First Senior Officials’ Meeting (SOM1) held from February 29 to March 8, 2024, in Lima, Republic of Peru. Mr. Thatchai Keerapongpaiboon, Director of the International Strategy and Cooperation Division, […]
APEC Economic Committee (EC) Meeting 2/2023
On August 14-15, 2023, the United States, as the APEC 2023 host, organized the APEC Economic Committee (EC) Meeting 2/2023, which was part of the Third Senior Officials’ Meeting (SOM3) held from July 29 to August 21, 2023, in Seattle, Washington, United States. Mr. Wanchat Suwankitti, Deputy Secretary-General of NESDC, led the Thai delegation in […]
APEC Economic Committee (EC) Meeting No. 1/2023
Mr. Wanchat Suwannakitti, Deputy Secretary-General, along with NESDC officials, represented Thailand at the APEC Economic Committee (EC) Meeting No. 1/2023 with 20 other APEC economies, held on February 23-24, 2023, during the 1st APEC Senior Officials’ Meeting in Palm Springs, California, United States. Key highlights are as follows: 1. APEC Economic Committee Meeting No. 1/2023 […]
The 1st APEC Economic Committee Meeting of 2022 and Related Meetings
Dr. Wanchat Suwannakitti, Deputy Secretary-General of the National Economic and Social Development Council, participated in the APEC Economic Committee (EC) meeting, which is one of APEC’s main committees, during Thailand’s hosting of the 3rd APEC Senior Officials’ Meeting and related meetings held at Shangri-La Hotel, Chiang Mai Province. The key meeting contents were as follows: […]
Results of the 1/2020 APEC Economic Committee Meeting and Related Meetings
The Cabinet acknowledged the results of the 1/2020 APEC Economic Committee Meeting and related meetings held from February 13-17, 2020, in Malaysia, which included: 1. Workshop on Innovative Regulatory Policy Development: APEC Economies’ Approaches on Sharing Economy, aimed at establishing guidelines for developing regulatory policies for the sharing economy among APEC member economies to align […]
General Information about APEC Program
The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) consists of 21 member economies: Australia, Canada, Japan, South Korea, China, Hong Kong, New Zealand, United States, Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Philippines, Thailand, Chinese Taipei, Chile, Mexico, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Russia, and Vietnam. Its objectives are to promote the multilateral trading system, support economic growth in the region and globally by reducing barriers and facilitating trade, services, and investment between economies. The Cabinet has assigned the Office of the National Economic and Social Development Council (NESDC) as the main responsible agency for participating in the APEC Economic Committee (EC) meetings and driving the APEC Structural Reform agenda.
The Enhanced APEC Agenda for Structural Reform (EAASR) 2021-2025 aims to support member economies in implementing structural reforms to stimulate economic growth, eliminate investment barriers, and promote well-being to make the Asia-Pacific region more dynamic and interconnected. The focus areas are:

Creating an environment that promotes competitive and systematic markets and trade

Assisting businesses in recovery and building resilience to future crises

Ensuring all social groups have access to opportunities for good health and inclusive/sustainable economic growth

Promoting innovation, technology, and skills that enhance productivity, digitalization, economic expansion, and resilience
The APEC Economic Committee (EC) has the primary mission of providing knowledge on economic trends and challenges to APEC Ministers and other APEC forums. This is achieved through comprehensive perspectives, in-depth analysis of economic trends, and challenges affecting the region, as well as promoting structural reforms to drive the achievement of the APEC Putrajaya Vision 2040. The EC operates through sub-forums and Friend of the Chair (FotC) groups, which include:
1.
Competition Policy and Law Group
(CPLG Sub-forum)
2.
Strengthening Economic Legal Infrastructure
(SELI)
3.
Ease of Doing Business
(EoDB)
4.
Corporate Law and Governance
(CLG)
5.
Regulatory Reform
(RR)
6.
Public Sector Governance
(PSG)
Additionally, the EC produces the annual APEC Economic Policy Reports (AEPRs) to provide economic policy recommendations. In 2023, Thailand has the task of being the Co-Lead of the Core Team, along with the United States, in preparing the report on “Structural Reform and Enabling Environment for Business for Inclusive, Resilient and Sustainable Business”. The objective is to exchange best practices and present policy recommendations to create an environment conducive to sustainable, socially responsible, and environmentally friendly business practices in the APEC region.
Working Mechanism
