On 9 December 2016, the APEC Informal Senior Officials’ Meeting (ISOM) took place at the National Convention Center in Ha Noi.

Attending the Meeting were some 200 delegates, including Senior Officials from 21 member economies and representatives of the Pacific Economic Cooperation Council (PECC) and the APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC). The Meeting was presided over by Incoming APEC 2017 SOM Chair Bui Thanh Son.

At the meeting, Senior Officials reviewed and discussed ways to implement tasks set by APEC Economic Leaders and Ministers in 2016.

Delegates also discussed the four priority areas proposed by Viet Nam. These are Fostering Sustainable, Innovative and Inclusive Growth; Deepening Regional Economic Integration; Strengthening MSMEs' Competitiveness and Innovation in the Digital Age; and Enhancing Food Security and Sustainable Agriculture in Response to Climate Change.

Member economies stressed the importance of new growth drivers for APEC to reassert its leadership in regional growth and economic integration efforts. APEC needs to promote inclusive and sustainable economic and trade growth. Participants also underlined the need for APEC to better communicate its work and value to the people and business community in the region.

APEC 2017 SOM Chair Bui Thanh Son, in concluding the Meeting, said the deliberations have provided thoughtful inputs for setting the directions for APEC cooperation over the next year. He assured delegations that Viet Nam will work closely with member economies to prepare for the First Senior Officials’ Meeting to be held in March 2017 in Nha Trang city.

ISOM concludes two days of discussions, kicking off APEC 2017 under the theme of “Creating New Dynamism, Fostering a Shared Future”. In 2017, Viet Nam will host about 200 APEC activities in 10 cities throughout the country, including the APEC Economic Leaders’ Week in Da Nang in November.

* Immediately after the conclusion of ISOM, Incoming APEC 2017 SOM Chair Bui Thanh Son held a Press Conference on APEC Viet Nam 2017. He was joined by Vice Minister of Culture, Sport and Tourism Huynh Vinh Ai, Vice-Chair of the Sub-Committee on Information and Culture of the APEC 2017 National Committee; APEC Peru 2016 SOM Chair Luis Quesada, Dr. Alan Bollard; Executive Director of the APEC Secretariat; Dr. Antonio Basilio, Director of the APEC Business Advisory Council’s International Secretariat, and Mr. Hoang Van Dung, ABAC Viet Nam Chair.

Some 100 participants, including international and Vietnamese press and media, delegates and representatives of businesses attended the press conference, which was aimed at  providing information about activities of and Viet Nam’s preparations for APEC 2017.