Cabinet Backs APEC Finance Statement on Digital Finance
The Thai Cabinet has approved the APEC finance ministers’ joint statement for 2026, which promotes digital finance and broader access to capital. It allows the Finance Ministry to make minor adjustments without further Cabinet review and lets the Finance Minister or a delegate endorse the document without signing it. The statement will be adopted at the 33rd APEC Finance Ministers’ Meeting in Hong Kong in October 2026.
The Cabinet’s approval of the APEC finance ministers’ joint statement for 2026 was announced by Deputy Government Spokesperson Ploytale Lakhasangchan. She said the Finance Ministry may update the document in non‑essential ways without needing to resubmit it to the Cabinet, and the Finance Minister or an appointed representative can give assent without a signature. China, hosting APEC 2026, will convene the 33rd APEC Finance Ministers’ Meeting in Hong Kong from October 20‑21, 2026, with endorsement of the statement scheduled for October 21. She explained that APEC brings together 21 economies on a voluntary basis and produces no legally binding commitments; consequently the statement is not a treaty under Article 178 of the Thai Constitution, but because it concerns international relations it must be laid before the Cabinet under Article 4(7) of the relevant decree. The core of the statement focuses on fostering cooperation to support household fiscal policies, improve access to funding for digital infrastructure, expand universal financial services, and boost financial knowledge and skills among young people.
