The Human Resource Development Working Group (HRDWG) held three meetings at the same time to discuss orientations and priorities for cooperation this year, including the implementation of the APEC education strategy, preparations for high-level policy dialogue on human resource development in the digital era held this May in Hanoi and the seventh APEC ministerial meeting on human resource development scheduled to convene next year.

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 Scene at the meeting of the Experts Group on Illegal Logging and Associated Trade (EGILAT)

At the first plenary meeting of the Sub-Committee on Customs Procedures (SCCP) of APEC, delegates discussed the implementation of the Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA) within the framework of the World Trade Organization (WTO) and the single-window mechanism and the enhancement of the supply connection framework and the development of business facilitation to provide favorable conditions in customs for import and export.

According to General Director of the General Department of Vietnam Customs Nguyen Van Can, APEC cooperation will help the Vietnam Customs to devise new initiatives and action programs to boost administrative reforms, facilitate trade, and support business communities, practically contributing to the building of a developmental Government of Vietnam.

The meetings of the Experts Group on Illegal Logging and Associated Trade (EGILAT) and the Sub-committee on Standards and Conformance (SCSC) concluded the first plenary session. The meeting of EGILAT is significant to promoting sustainable forest management and legal trade on timber products. Meanwhile, the meeting of SCSC looked into measures to harmoniously improve standards of APEC members in conformity to international ones.

Other groups including the Competition Policy and Law Group (CPLG), the Life Sciences Innovation Forum (LSIF), and Counter Terrorism Working Group (CTWG) also held meetings on the day.

In parallel with meetings of SOM-1, within in the framework of meetings in preparations for the APEC Finance and Central Bank Deputies' Meeting scheduled to open in Nha Trang city on February 23 - 24, a workshop themed “Disaster risk insurance financing and insurance policies” was also held the same day.

Translated by Huu Duong