On President Rodrigo Duterte’s Participation in the 26th APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting

The Palace is pleased to announce that President Rodrigo Roa Duterte had a fruitful and productive participation in
the 26th APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting, where he, together with 20 economic leaders, joined in the dialogue
before prominent business leaders during the summit of chief executive officers of the APEC Business Advisory
Council or ABAC, a meeting with leaders of the Pacific Islands Forum, and a dialogue with the International
Monetary Fund (IMF).

During his meetings with our neighbors, friends and allies in APEC, the President actively engaged in important
discussions and advanced our country's priorities in what we consider as the most important economic cooperation
platform in the world.

He affirmed his commitment to continuously take part in and contribute to the APEC Forum, underscoring that the
Philippine trade with APEC economies comprise 84 percent of the country's total trade worldwide with 82 percent
of our merchandise exports destined for the APEC region.

Meanwhile, he noted that 85 percent of all imports to the Philippines come from our economic partners in APEC
and about 83 percent of tourist arrivals to the Philippines also come from the APEC region.

The Chief Executive likewise interacted with the members of the Filipino community who work and reside in Papua
New Guinea. Close to 40,000 of our countrymen and over 200 Philippine companies operate in this Pacific nation
contributing to its overall domestic economy.

Finally, the President personally commended his good friend Papua New Guinea Prime Minister Peter O’ Neill for
his country’s successful hosting of this year's APEC Forum and likewise expressed his gratitude for the warmth and
hospitality the Prime Minister and his people extended to the President and the rest of the Philippine delegation.

With the President's undiminished dedication to our country's economic progress and the formidable support he
was able to solicit from the respective leaders of the APEC Community, we are enthusiastic to say that this trip not
only benefited our country today but also its overall economy in the following years.

Secretary Salvador S. Panelo

Presidential Spokesperson &
Chief Presidential Legal Counsel