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Project Title

Capacity Building Workshop on Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Project Year

2026

Project Number

CTI_102_2026A

Project Session

Session 1

Project Type

Standard

Project Status

Project in Implementation
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Project No.

CTI_102_2026A

Project Title

*
Capacity Building Workshop on Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Project Status

Project in Implementation

Fund Account

*
APEC Support Fund

Sub-fund

ASF: General Fund

Project Year

2026

Project Session

*
Session 1

APEC Funding

84,000

Co-funding Amount

26,000

Total Project Value

110,000

Sponsoring Forum

*
Committee on Trade and Investment (CTI)

Topics

Trade Facilitation; Digital Economy

Committee

Committee on Trade and Investment (CTI)

Other Fora Involved

Other Non-APEC Stakeholders Involved

 

Proposing Economy(ies)

Korea

Co-Sponsoring Economies

China; Hong Kong, China; Malaysia; Papua New Guinea; Peru; Thailand; Viet Nam

Expected Start Date

01/01/2027

Expected Completion Date

31/12/2027

Project Proponent Name 1

Seungkyu YUM

Job Title 1

Deputy Director

Organization 1

Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea

Telephone 1

82221007265

Email 1

skyum@mofa.go.kr

Project Proponent Name 2

Not Applicable

Job Title 2

Not Applicable

Organization 2

Not Applicable

Telephone 2

Not Applicable

Email 2

Not Applicable

Declaration

Seungkyu YUM

Project Summary

This capacity-building workshop, implemented under the 5th CBNI (2026-2030), aims to narrow gaps in economies’ FTA/RTA negotiation and implementation capabilities and to strengthen readiness for comprehensive regional undertakings including emerging AI-related disciplines. (eg. AI provisions have appeared in DEPA, Korea-Singapore DPA, etc).

The workshop will provide a balanced, practice-oriented program combining expert-led sessions and participant-driven Q&A, and will serve as a practical knowledge sharing tool enabling the dissemination of practical lessons and good practices during the workshop. It will align with the APEC AI Initiative (2026–2030) objectives on advancing AI transformation, building AI capacities, and fostering resilient AI infrastructure investment, and will reflect Leaders’ priorities from the Gyeongju Declaration on AI and capacity building to advance regional economic integration in the region, including through the FTAAP agenda.

Relevance

Region
AI is fundamentally reshaping economies and digital trade. However, APEC economies exhibit a wide range of capabilities and perspectives regarding AI policies. As AI-related issues become a core component of modern trade agreements (e.g., DEPA, CPTPP, DPA), there is a critical need to bridge the capacity gaps among negotiators. As AI and digital trade become more deeply intertwined, APEC plays a vital role in fostering regulatory coherence and sharing best practices – advancing resilient economic growth for all across the region.

Eligibility and Fund Priorities
The project is an economy-wide capacity building activity that will deliver regional public benefits. It is designed to strengthen APEC economies’ practical capabilities to negotiate, implement, and utilize FTA/RTA provisions in the fast-evolving area of AI, through knowledge sharing and peer learning among officials, experts and privates.

The project aligns with fund priorities by advancing economic integration in the region through the FTAAP agenda as enhancing members’ ability to actively participate in AI-related cooperation within APEC and international fora by improving understanding of AI-related developments in economic, trade and digital agreements, as well as trends in AI discussion among major economies and the international community.

Capacity Building
The workshop will mainly target not only APEC economies’ officials in charge of FTA/RTA negotiations, but also officials covering AI issues. Bringing together officials from across APEC economies – not only from developing members – for knowledge sharing would be more effective in strengthening capacity. Aligned with the APEC AI Initiative’s focus on capacity building, it will upskill government officials and trade negotiators, preparing them to navigate the AI transition in trade rule-making.

Objectives

This workshop aims to strengthen APEC economies’ capacity to negotiate, implement, and utilize AI-related provisions in FTAs/RTAs, and shares practical approaches, case-based lessons, tools for policy and regulatory coherence. It is also envisaged to share Korea’s experience regarding DEPA and the Korea-Singapore DPA, both of which contain provisions related to AI. In addition, it will cover trends in AI-related issues across major economies and multilateral fora in order to help APEC economies better understand evolving trends in the AI field and actively participate in related discussions and negotiations. The project supports Leaders’ direction to broaden meaningful participation in AI transformation through capacity building and experience sharing on AI adoption and related policies.

By sharing comparative insights and best practices, the project will ensure that APEC economies can formulate trade policies that support secure and reliable AI adoption.

Alignment

APEC
This project supports the 5th CBNI objectives to narrow FTA/RTA negotiation capability gaps and support peer learning, and improve economies’ understanding and implementation of FTA/RTA. It operationalizes Leaders’ priorities in the Gyeongju Declaration to advance economic integration in the APEC region in a manner that is market-driven through experience sharing and capacity building, and to prepare the region for digital and AI transformation.

It also aligns with the APEC AI Initiative (2026–2030) by advancing successful AI transformation, building AI capacities at all levels, and promoting cooperation and enabling environments for resilient AI infrastructure investment.

Forum
The project is closely aligned with CTI’s work to support economic integration in the region, including through the FTAAP agenda, through practical capacity building, consistent with the 5th CBNI framework’s sector list that explicitly includes Digital Economy and Artificial Intelligence (AI) and its recommended agenda areas (capacity for inclusive AI deployment, risk-based AI regulatory approaches, enabling cross-border data flows for AI, and broader digital trade issues).

Beneficiaries and Outputs

Outputs
Output 1 - One-full day Workshop

A one-full day physical workshop will be held between SOM2 and SOM3 2027 in Seoul. This workshop will be designed to emphasize information sharing, capacity building, and fostering a foundational sense of cooperation among participants.

We plan to invite 50-70 participants from all member economies, primarily government officials responsible for FTA/RTA negotiations and AI-related issues. Additionally, we will invite about 6 experts using APEC funding.

Tentative agendas are: 1) AI value chains and emerging trade and economic issues, including the implications for economic integration in the region; 2) Global AI governance, comparative approaches among APEC economies, and regulatory heterogeneity; 3) AI-related provisions and discussions in trade agreements; and 4) a final session that recaps the key learnings and facilitates a discussion amongst participants about what they gained the most from the event and how they can/plan to apply new information, resources or learning in their roles.
Tentatively, each session will be approximately 90 minutes and will consist of expert presentations, a panel discussion, and a Q&A session with participants and experts.

We will also add a post-event survey(The post-event survey template will be distributed at the beginning of the event in both paper format and via QR code) as the final agenda item of the Workshop. Through the survey, we plan to ask participants what they gained from the event and how they intend to apply the knowledge and information acquired to their respective roles.

Output 2 - Workshop Summary Report (APEC Publication)

The Workshop Summary Report will be written no less than 15 pages, excluding annexes. It will encompass summary from the presentations/speeches, key findings, shared best practices, implications (comments, discussions, recommendations etc.) from the participants, and etc. The Workshop Summary Report will be disseminated as APEC Publication

The target number of recommendations/best practices to be included in the Workshop Summary Report is 5.

Outcomes
1) Increased knowledge among participating officials of emerging AI-related global value chains and its effects to the economic integration in the region.

2) Improved practical capacity to identify options and good practices for negotiating and designing AI-related trade provisions, while considering different levels of readiness and domestic circumstances.

3) Providing opportunities for exchange views and peer learning among APEC economies on the implications of AI development for economic integration in the region.

Beneficiaries
Primary beneficiaries will be officials from member economies in charge of APEC, FTA/RTA negotiations and AI-related issues, Trade policymakers. We expect officials from Ministry of Trade, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Science or Technology, and relevant representatives nominated by APEC member economies.

Secondary beneficiaries include entrepreneurs, including MSMEs and startups who will benefit from an enabling environment for AI innovation.

Dissemination

Documents of the workshop such as presentation and reference will be provided to the participants. The Workshop Summary Report will be made available online through the APEC Publication page. We will share the publication with relevant organizations and academic institutions based on their request.

No intention to sell outputs arising from the project.

Gender

Please see Project Proposal in Supporting Documents folder.

Work Plan

Please see Project Proposal in Supporting Documents folder.

Risks

Please see Project Proposal in Supporting Documents folder.

Monitoring and Evaluation

Please see Project Proposal in Supporting Documents folder.

Linkages

The project builds directly on the 5th CBNI framework, but AI is a sector that has not been covered in previous CBNI activities. It will reinforce Leaders’ call to enhance experience sharing and capacity building for high-standard undertakings and the FTAAP agenda. It also links to the APEC AI Initiative by providing a practical capacity-building event that supports AI readiness, stakeholder collaboration, policy exchange, and participation of all (including MSMEs and workforce-focused elements).

Since the workshop is aimed at enhancing AI capabilities of the member economies with regard to the trade agreements, it will help cross-fora collaboration with the Digital Economy Steering Group (DESG) and the Telecommunications and Information Working Group (TELWG). This project will also involve the private sector, including collaboration with the APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC).

Sustainability

The objectives of this project address critical, contemporary issues that require sustained attention, policy innovation, and coordinated international efforts. To ensure the continued impact of the project after APEC funding concludes, several follow-up initiatives(including AI Initiatve) and support mechanisms can be implemented.

To build on the project's outputs and outcomes, a structured plan for future actions could be established. This plan might include working together with other sub-fora dedicated to areas where the need for further study or mutual cooperation has been identified through this project.

Direct Labour

Please see Project Proposal in Supporting Documents folder.

Are there any supporting document attached?

Yes
Project No.
Project Title
Project Status
Fund Account
Sub-fund
Project Year
Project Session
APEC Funding
Co-funding Amount
Total Project Value
Sponsoring Forum
Topics
Committee
Other Fora Involved
Other Non-APEC Stakeholders Involved
Proposing Economy(ies)
Co-Sponsoring Economies
Expected Start Date
Expected Completion Date
Project Proponent Name 1
Job Title 1
Organization 1
Telephone 1
Email 1
Project Proponent Name 2
Job Title 2
Organization 2
Telephone 2
Email 2
Declaration
Project Summary
Relevance
Objectives
Alignment
Beneficiaries and Outputs
Dissemination
Gender
Work Plan
Risks
Monitoring and Evaluation
Linkages
Sustainability
Direct Labour
Are there any supporting document attached?
hdFldAdmin
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Previous Fora
Secretariat Comments
Reprogramming Notes
Consolidated QAF
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Completion Report Received
PMU Field 1
PMU Field 2
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On Behalf Of
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Approval Status
Attachments
Content Type: Standard Proposal
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