On 12 November 2021, Thailand took up chairmanship of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) from New Zealand for APEC and related meetings through 2022. The National Anti-Corruption Commission is seizing this opportunity to highlight anti-corruption priorities and build momentum in the fight against corruption.
With the current 21 member economies, APEC has become the most economically dynamic region in the world and continues to promote regional cooperation to facilitate economic growth, trade and investment as well as address sustainability and social equity.
Essentially, trade volume between Thailand and other APEC economies accounts for 69.8% of the country’s total international trade. In addition to demonstrating its economic potential and readiness to welcome tourists, Thailand aims to play
a constructive role as the Host Economy in advancing an agenda in support of restoring economies that have been severely affected by the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
To this end, Thailand has set goals to mobilise the following priorities: (1) OPEN to all opportunities to boost trade and investment (2) CONNECT all dimensions to reboot connectivity within the region, and (3) BALANCE all aspects for balanced, sustainable and inclusive growth.
APEC meetings provide annual forums for member economies to meet, share information and develop policies and direction for APEC’s work. APEC operates at several levels: Leaders, Ministers, Senior Officials, committees and working groups, totalling hundreds of meetings. In 2022, NACC is tasked with hosting annual meetings of the Anti-Corruption and Transparency Experts’ Working Group (ACTWG) and the Network on Anti-Corruption Authorities and Law Enforcement Agencies (ACT-NET). These meetings are platforms for
anti-corruption and law enforcement practitioners to share experiences and best practices related to current developments and emergent trends in the prevention and combatting of corruption, with a view to reinforcing regional cooperation in the anti-corruption domain.
At the latest 33rd ACTWG meeting on 25 August 2021, NACC President Police General Watcharapol Prasarnrajkit delivered
a statement for the ACTWG and ACT-NET chairmanship handover and outlined the NACC’s initiatives to elevate
anti-corruption efforts. Under Thailand’s APEC chairmanship, the NACC proposed to host a workshop with the ACTWG and ACT-NET plenary meetings in February 2022 on the use of digital innovation and technologies to promote transparency and tackle corruption. The project outcomes are expected to translate into concrete implementation of APEC’s vision of creating a favourable environment for sustainable and inclusive economic growth and prosperity in the Asia-Pacific region during Thailand’s chairmanship.
UNDER THAILAND’S APEC CHAIRMANSHIP,
THE NACC PROPOSED TO HOST
A WORKSHOP WITH THE ACTWG AND
ACT-NET PLENARY MEETINGS IN FEBRUARY 2022
ON THE USE OF DIGITAL INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGIES TO PROMOTE TRANSPARENCY
AND TACKLE CORRUPTION.