TOP trade officials from all Asean member-states (AMS) gathered on March 9 to officially convene the 23rd Asean Economic Ministers’ (AEM) Retreat Meeting and Related Meetings hosted by the Philippines.
On the same day, an interface with the Asean Business Advisory Council was held. The Philippines, led by Trade Secretary Ramon M. Lopez (sixth from left), who serves as the AEM chairman, was determined to seek the meeting’s endorsements on the country’s top priority deliverables ranging from trade and trade facilitation, trade in services, investment, connectivity and innovation.