With his palm outstretched, Eduardo Pedrosa watched a drone camera hover momentarily before landing steadily in his hand. "Oh my God!" he blurted out, marveling at the interactive technology. The executive director of the APEC Secretariat was visiting INNO100, a global innovation hub at Shenzhen Bay Cultural Plaza in Nanshan District, part of a multi-day tour of the city last week.
Eduardo Pedrosa, executive director of the APEC Secretariat, holds a drone camera during a visit to INNO100, a global innovation hub at Shenzhen Bay Cultural Plaza in Nanshan District, last week. Photos by Shenzhen Daily
Closing his speech at the APEC China 2026 "Tech for People" Nanshan Day event the next day, he offered another vivid example, suddenly removing his glasses and holding them aloft for the audience to see.
"Do your elderly parents ever ask, 'Where are my glasses?'" he asked with a smile. "If glasses had built-in tracking, the elderly would never have to struggle to find them again."
To Pedrosa, a hand-responsive drone and unlosable glasses define "Tech for People." With less than 200 days until the 33rd APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting, which is scheduled for November in Shenzhen, Pedrosa sat down with Shenzhen Daily to discuss why growth is merely a tool—and why true innovation lies in improving lives.
Where pain lies, innovation rises
when defining meaningful innovation, Pedrosa avoids abstract theories, pointing instead to everyday challenges.
He cited "information asymmetry" as a barrier being broken. "In the past, banking required a physical branch. Now, digital finance on mobile phones has lowered barriers for farmers and small business owners in remote areas," he said. He noted that ride-hailing platforms like Didi or Uber succeeded not through flashy tech, but by solving real-world problems.
However, he warned of a persistent digital divide. "The cycle of technology diffusion is now measured in weeks, yet millions still lack basic internet access globally."
Beyond the digital gap lies a hidden vulnerability: supply chain fragility. "The pandemic showed that many firms don't see their full supply chain," Pedrosa explained. "We need AI to provide 'penetrative power' for transparency. Without transparency, there is no trust—and without trust, technology cannot truly serve people."
Eduardo Pedrosa
Seeking interoperability in a fragmented world
Throughout the interview, Pedrosa emphasized one word: interoperability.
"Every economy has its own culture and legal system. We aren't trying to make everyone identical," he said. "We are ensuring systems can work together." Ideally, a digital service used in Shenzhen should function seamlessly in Singapore, Japan, the Philippines, Japan, or South Korea.
Bridging these gaps is APEC's vital role. Amid rising protectionism, Pedrosa highlighted practical cooperation over mere rhetoric. APEC is currently advancing concrete projects in AI and paperless trade. "We don't just issue high-level declarations; we implement thousands of practical projects," he noted.
He emphasized that the constant dialogue between APEC and the private sector is key to ensuring that policymaking doesn't lag behind innovation. Faced with an unprecedented surge in technology—ranging from AI to quantum computing—he stressed that APEC must stay ahead of the curve by creating platforms for collaboration before the next wave fully arrives.
Shenzhen: A glimpse of the future
This was Pedrosa's third visit to Shenzhen since his first trip two decades ago. "The city is completely unrecognizable," he said with astonishment.
From cross-border ferries to the dense high-speed rail network of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, Shenzhen represents the convergence of physical, institutional, and people-to-people connectivity.
"What impressed me most was the innovation community," Pedrosa said. "Engineers, designers, and entrepreneurs communicate constantly. Ideas become products overnight. That collaborative efficiency is why Shenzhen is China's Silicon Valley."
Reflecting on APEC's evolution, Pedrosa noted that when China first hosted in 2001, the focus was trade. In 2014, it was connectivity. For APEC 2026 in Shenzhen, the keywords will be innovation and the future. This shift mirrors China's path toward high-quality development and the APEC Putrajaya Vision 2040.
As the city prepares, Pedrosa had a message for local volunteers: "Every volunteer is an ambassador. You represent the spirit of this city—its openness and vitality."
"In November, the world will see more than just the speed of a city," he concluded. "They will see a new relationship where technology belongs to, serves, and is embraced by the people."
The drone landing softly in his hand was the perfect symbol of that vision.
