This year, ABAC adopted the theme “Openness, Connectivity, Synergy"
The 2026 Work Program will have the following priorities:
Regional Economic Integration Working Group- Robust, resilient and open economic architecture
- Unlocking pathways to prosperity: access and opportunity
- Future-proofing trade: The new digital and green economies
- Enhancing food security and agri-tech innovation
- Achieving smarter and inclusive healthcare
- Fostering resilience and sustainability in mining
- Promoting just, ambitious and realistic energy transitions
- AI Applied (AI+): AI solutions transforming traditional sectors
- Digital Currency: Landscape and implications
- Quantum Technologies: Foundations, impacts and commercial progress
- Digital Now and Next: Digital Trust Advisory knowledge exchange and thought leadership
- Physical connectivity: strengthening water, land and aviation connectivity and enhancing people mobility
- Institutional connectivity: progressing the establishment of the Sustainable Infrastructure Evaluation System, promoting interoperable regional digital infrastructure and mutual recognition of payment standards and strengthening coordination of trade and supply chain rules
- People-to-people connectivity: encouraging education exchange and cooperation across the region, fostering a supportive regional ecosystem for youth entrepreneurship and promoting cross-border multicultural communication
- Building the ecosystem for digital finance
- Mobilizing private capital for strong, sustained and resilient growth
- Supporting the implementation of the Finance Ministers’ Incheon Plan
Detailed recommendations will be developed during the course of 2026 on priorities identified in the work program. ABAC’s recommendations will be conveyed to APEC governments through a range of avenues including to APEC Senior Officials, Trade, SME and Finance Ministers and directly to APEC Economic Leaders at the annual Dialogue with APEC Leaders.
