MikeLigalig.com

Ladies and gentlemen of the press,
I am pleased to present to you some highlights of the APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting held over these past two days. 

First I shall summarize for you some highlights from the Bangkok Declaration on Partnership for the Future that we agreed on.

All APEC Leaders agreed that, in order to realize the APEC vision set out in 1993 of "achieving stability, security and prosperity for our peoples," it is essential to strengthen our partnership not only to liberalize and facilitate regional trade and investment, but also to protect our peoples and societies against threats to their security, while preparing them to benefit fully from free and open trade. 

1. Promoting Trade and Investment Liberalization

On the Doha Development Agenda, we believe that it offers the potential for real gains for all economies, particularly developing economies, in the areas of agricultural reform, improved market access for goods and services, and clarification and improvement of trade disciplines. We agreed to express our strong support for continuing the work done at Cancun to move the Doha Round towards an ambitious and balanced outcome. We believed that flexibility and political will are urgently needed to re-energize the negotiations, building on Chairman Derbez's text of 13 September 2003.

We agreed to work towards the abolition of all forms of agricultural export subsidies, unjustifiable export prohibitions and restrictions, and committed ourselves to work in the negotiating group on rules in accordance with the Doha mandate.

We agreed to advance free trade in a coordinated manner among multilateral, regional and bilateral frameworks so that they are complementary, consistent with WTO principles and contribute to the Bogor Goals.

To enhance APEC's work on the WTO, we reaffirmed our support for the early accession to the WTO by Russia and Vietnam.

We agreed to work with the APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC) and the business community to continue to implement the Shanghai Accord and Los Cabos directives to facilitate business activity in the APEC region, including the reduction of transaction costs 5% by the year 2006.

We agreed to fight corruption by working in 2004 to develop actions to combat it, and to continue promoting transparency through our agreed transparency standards. 

2. Enhancing Human Security

Transnational terrorism and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction pose direct and profound challenges to our vision of free, open and prosperous economies. We therefore dedicated APEC to the complementary mission of ensuring the security of our people.

To counter terrorism, we agreed to increase and better coordinate our counter-terrorism activities with such bodies as the Counter Terrorism Action Group (CTAG) of the G-8 and the United Nations Security Council Counter Terrorism Committee. We also saw the need to prevent terrorist attacks against mass transportation, in particular, by confronting the threat posed by terrorists' acquisition and use of Man-Portable Air Defense Systems (MANPADS) against international aviation.

We also recognized the need to establish a regional trade and financial security initiative within the Asian Development Bank, to support projects that enhance port security and combat terrorist finance. The United States has agreed to provide 5.4 million US dollars in cash and kind for this facility.

We agreed to implement the APEC Action Plan on SARS and our Health Security Initiative to help APEC prevent and respond to regional health threats - including naturally occurring infectious disease and bio-terrorism. We also encouraged the Life Sciences Innovation Forum to complete its strategic plan by 2004.

3. Using APEC to Help People and Societies Benefit from Globalization

We believed that sustainable and equitable economic development requires empowering people and strengthening societies for globalization. 

We therefore instructed Ministers to coordinate on micro enterprise financing and capacity building initiatives, in collaboration with international financial institutions and other relevant parties.

We instructed Ministers to accelerate progress towards the Brunei Goals on expanding Internet access, improvement of intellectual property rights protection, implementation of the e-APEC Strategy, and upgrading the ability of the workforce to effectively use the Internet, by developing their English-language and computer skills.

We urged further cooperation on development of domestic and regional bond markets, as well as securitization and credit guarantee markets to promote sound and efficient financial systems and fundamentals in our region.

Finally, we instructed Ministers to explore how APEC can be made more efficient and responsive to all stakeholders, particularly the general public. We asked Ministers to report on progress by the time we meet in Chile in 2004.

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Chile assumes the task of organizing APEC 2004 with enthusiasm, with realism on the world economy and with a vision of the future.

APEC is a coordination forum whose main goal is to promote fee trade and to facilitate the increasing exchange among its members.

The question is: to what extent do the conditions of the world trade and the globalization allow us to advance towards those goals?

If we look on what happened in Cancun, there are reasons to feel frustrated. Nevertheless, the debate held in Bangkok summons us to unlock the obstacles which are tying up the WTO. And this is a good sign of what APEC can do for itself and for the rest of the world.

This is a unique forum. Four members of G-8 are here. Several countries of the Cairns Group are seated in this table. The strength of the emerging economies meet in this forum. Strong agricultural economies, as well as industrialized ones and those of high technological development are part of APEC.

Because our experiences and views are diverse, and because there are those who come from one and from the other sides of the Pacific, it provides us with an opportunity to debate the world trade agenda from the particularity of each economy.

It would be a paramount mistake to regard the Doha agenda as finished. Our task must be to contribute from APEC to restart multilateral negotiations that make free trade possible, with clear rules and opportunities for all.

In APEC we have clear goals. We have recognized the strength of bilateral, trilateral or other kind of Agreements that allow us to advance in our objectives.

In receiving in our hands the APEC coordination, we have the opportunity to move forward within this forum that which until now has not been possible in the WTO.

The Pacific Ocean is poised to become the great promoting pole of the world economy in the 21st century. Chile, with more than 4,000 kilometers of coast in the other side of this large ocean, sets itself out to contribute its own share during APEC 2003.



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The "Bangkok Declaration on Partnership for the Future," which is the Leaders' Declaration from the 11th Annual APEC Leaders Meeting, has been posted on the APEC Secretariat Website.

Also available is the Chair's Summary of Discussions at Retreats I and II and the Press Conference comments by Thailand's Prime Minister H.E. Thaksin Shinawatra.



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APEC Economic Leaders have moved to protect the people and economies of the APEC region from possible future bio-terrorist attacks and naturally occurring disease outbreaks.

Leaders issued the "APEC Leaders' Statement on Health Security," which provides direction for APEC Member Economies to collectively take domestic measures to protect public health, combined with cooperative efforts involving government and non-governmental institutions.

The full text of the APEC Leaders' Statement on Health Security is now available online.

Executive Director of the APEC Secretariat, Ambassador Piamsak Milintachinda said that disease outbreaks have a significant impact on the social and economic health of the region.

"The outbreak of SARS and terrorist attacks have stimulated new thinking on the best way for APEC to address regional health issues," said Ambassador Milintachinda.

"The APEC Leaders' Statement on Health Security adds value to APEC's overall activities and the work of other organizations to protect our people and economies.

"Last year, APEC Economic Leaders noted that, 'investing in health will benefit economic growth'. As a result, APEC has been building on existing work to establish a regional health surveillance network and an early warning system to monitor and respond to critical disease outbreaks in the region and critical threats such as bio-terrorism.

"Our future focus will be on monitoring disease, containing outbreaks and coordinating responses in the event of disease outbreak.

"We will also work closely with the World Health Organization and the APEC Emerging Infections Network on these issues.

"A high level of physical security, accountability and safety with respect to the storage, use and transfer of dangerous biological pathogens, will be collectively established consistent with current national and international efforts.

"A strict code of ethical conduct for bio-scientists will be established and we will promote already existing codes in this area.

"Finally, we will strengthen, or introduce, laws, regulations and enforcement mechanisms that require strict export controls on dual-use biological materials and equipment."

Ambassador Milintachinda indicated that the newly formed, ad hoc APEC Health Task Force, would coordinate health-related issues in APEC.

"APEC demonstrated it is serious about heath issues by convening the first APEC Health Ministers' Meeting in Bangkok on 28 June 2003, where an Action Plan and Communications Strategy on SARS were agreed," Ambassador Milintachinda said.

"The creation of the APEC Health Task Force is the next logical step to better coordinate heath issues in the region, including facilitating follow-up of the SARS initiatives," said Ambassador Milintachinda

"The implementation of the Action Plan on SARS will be an important task for the APEC Health Task Force. Lessons learned from this plan will assist the group to effectively manage possible future outbreaks of infectious diseases.

"Dr Melinda Moore from the United States has been appointed Chair of this important group, which will address health-related threats to economies, trade and security, focusing mainly on naturally occurring and man-made emerging infectious diseases.

"The group will also coordinate their activities with other APEC fora and international organizations, such as the World Health Organization to ensure APEC's work is efficient in this area and does not duplicate the efforts of others.

"The APEC Health Task Force will develop detailed Terms of Reference by the First APEC Senior Officials' Meeting for 2003 in March.

"It is expected that the task force will complete its assigned mission within two years, unless it proves the need for continuation and receives approval from Senior Officials."

The APEC Leaders' Statement on Health Security and creation of the APEC Health Task Force build on APEC's 2001 Infectious Disease Strategy. The 2001 strategy sets the groundwork for APEC's commitment to health security measures which address naturally occurring and intentionally caused disease outbreaks.



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Transparency is an essential principle in the APEC process for both promoting economic stability and in meeting APEC's free trade and investment goals.

Today, Leaders endorsed the package of "area-specific" transparency standards for inclusion in their original "2002 Statement to Implement APEC Transparency Standards."

The transparency standards relate specifically to eight areas:

Services

Investment

Competition Law and Policy and Regulatory Reform

Standards and Conformance

Intellectual Property

Custom procedures

Market Access

Business Mobility

In their 18 October Statement, APEC Ministers directed officials to complete their work on area-specific standards on government procurement by the Meeting of Ministers Responsible for Trade in June 2004.

The first "Leaders' Statement to Implement APEC Transparency Standards" was issued at the 2002 Leaders' Meeting in Los Cabos, Mexico.

The Ministers also requested Senior Officials further refine the template developed for reporting on how economies implement the General

Transparency Standards to be used from 2004.

Economies are expected to have fully implemented the Leaders' Transparency Standards by the January 2005 deadline.

The APEC"Leaders' Statement to Implement APEC Transparency Standards" is available is available on the APEC website.



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Over the past decade, APEC's trade and investment liberalisation accomplishments have helped reduce poverty by one third in the Asia-Pacific region, raising an estimated 165 million people out of poverty, according to a research paper released today by the APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC).

The paper, "The First Decade Since Bogor: A Business Assessment on APEC's Progress" also notes the creation of 195 million jobs as APEC economies have generated 70% of world economic growth.

The study concludes that APEC's Bogor Goals - free trade and investment in the industrialized economies by 2010 and in developing economies by 2020 - remain relevant and achievable.

The three pillars of APEC are the interrelated areas of liberalisation, facilitation and capacity building. Liberalisation means opening markets, facilitation is making it easier to do business, and capacity building involves making institutions more effective and assure that the benefits of APEC's work are available to all. And these three pillars remain as relevant today as they were in 1994.

The paper observes an important link between liberalisation and building the capacity of the region's institutions, and strongly urges APEC to take strong measures.

"We feel more needs to be done to strengthen capacity building in order to achieve a proper balance between the three pillars." says Dr. Victor Fung, Chairman of the Trade and Investment Liberalisation Working Group.

"Since the establishment of the Bogor Goals, significant events, such as the Asian Financial Crisis, September 11th, the rise of China, the SARS health threat and technological progress have changed the world," says Dr. Victor Fung

"The world has changed since 1994 and therefore we believe it is important to step back to reassess and re-energize APEC's long term mission as we approach the 10th anniversary of the Bogor Goals."

Dr. Viphandh Roengpithya, Chairman of ABAC said, "There are structural imbalances that could have a significant impact on the path to the Bogor Goals. Even though APEC has made considerable progress on liberalisation, issues still remain and we recommend a leadership and concerted measures."

ABAC's Business Assessment, produced through the Trade and Investment Liberalisation Working Group, is a strategic assessment of APEC's achievement since the adoption of the Bogor Goals in 1994. The paper also examines structural shifts and economic setbacks and their implications for these goals.

The attached fact sheet highlights eight key APEC accomplishments and developments since the Bogor Goals declaration.

ABAC is the private-sector arm of the APEC forum, and consists of up to three senior business representatives from each of APEC's 21 member economies. ABAC members are appointed directly by their respective heads of economy to advise APEC Economic Leaders and Ministers from the perspective of regional business.



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Ministers, business leaders and scientists will meet in Christchurch, New Zealand, on 8-12 March 2004 for the Fourth APEC Science and Technology Cooperation Ministerial Meeting.

The first APEC ministerial level event for 2004, the meeting will convene under the theme of "Connecting Science, Policy and Business."

APEC Secretariat Executive Director, Ambassador Piamsak Milintachinda, said the Christchurch meeting will give clear direction and identify science and technology related objectives for participants in the APEC process.

"Cooperation on science and technology issues is essential for the development of trade, the creation of business opportunities and employment growth in the APEC region," Ambassador Milintachinda said.

"The convergence of traditional science, communications technology and emerging areas such as life sciences research cuts across many areas of APEC activities.

"The Science and Technology Ministers' Meeting will feed directly into the work agenda of APEC fora and working groups.

"New Zealand will host an agenda that will include a series of forums to discuss the latest research and development activities in APEC Member Economies, future directions for the sector and the development of science and technology capacity in the APEC Region.

"The meeting will showcase the best of the Asia-Pacific region's research expertise and forge greater collaboration and partnerships between APEC economies and businesses."

The meeting will also look at the progress of issues and themes established at the Third APEC Science and Technology Cooperation Ministerial Meeting that was held in Mexico City in 1998.

2003 APEC Science and Technology Cooperation Ministerial Meeting Schedule:

8-9 March - 26th Industrial Science & Technology Working Group (ISTWG) Meeting.

10-12 March - 4th APEC Ministers Meeting on Science and Technology Co-operation.

10-11 March - 5th APEC R & D Leaders Forum.

9-12 March - Innovation Showcase.

Visit the APEC Science Ministers' Meeting Secretariat Website at: www.apecscience2004.org.nz



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Research and development leaders will have an unprecedented opportunity to influence decision makers' thinking at next year's meeting of APEC Science and Technology Ministers in Christchurch, New Zealand.

The 4th APEC Ministers's Meeting on Regional Science & Technology Co-operation is the first APEC ministerial level event for 2004 and is part of a series of high level meetings convening under the theme of 'Connecting Science, Policy and Business' from 8 - 12 March.

A number of countries have already indicated they will send a strong delegation, and in some cases more than one Minister, to the event. This includes the United States, Australia, Japan, Korea, Thailand, China, Chinese Taipei and Brunei Darussalam.

The R & D Leaders Forum will be held at the same time, bringing together leaders from the private and public research sectors in the APEC region and further afield.

For the first time R & D leaders will be able to sit down with APEC Science Ministers and have direct input into their thinking says Forum Convenor Anthony Scott, who is the Executive Director of New Zealand's Association of Crown Research Institutes.

"This is a unique opportunity for R & D leaders to influence the way in which the knowledge gained through scientific research is used to benefit the health, wealth and welfare of societies in the APEC region. These two influential groups will be able to discuss face-to-face how science and technology can create value and how we can do it better across the APEC region."

Capturing value from science is the overall theme of the R & D Leaders Forum, which will feature presentations from international leaders in their field.

"The Forum will feature a unique mix of leaders in R & D policy making, operational research and business," Mr Scott says. "We need to have these people talking to each other so they understand each others issues and the drivers. At times there seem to be walls between these groups - the R & D Leaders Forum programme removes these barriers to bring people together to identify and discuss the issues."

Among the leaders confirmed to speak at the Forum are:

Dr Masayuki Kondo, Professor of Technology Management, Graduate School of Environment and Information Sciences at Yokohama National University of Japan. Dr Kondo is a distinguished scholar who will examine management, science and contemporary issues in developing nations.

Dr Gregory Yurek, President, CEO and Chairman of the Board of American Superconductor Corporation. Dr Yurek is a world class business leader who will focus on commercialising science: lessons from the high-technology coalface.

Dr Paul Callaghan and Dr Peter Hunter. Professor Callaghan is the Director of the MacDiarmid Institute for Advanced Materials and Nanotechnology and a Professor of Physical Sciences at Victoria University in Wellington, New Zealand. Professor Hunter is the Director of the Bioengineering Institute at the University of Auckland, New Zealand. These two world class science leaders will discuss new policy and strategy challenges shaped by converging sciences

Meanwhile, to connect international researchers, business and investment partners with world class New Zealand companies an Innovation Showcase is being organised by New Zealand Trade and Enterprise, the New Zealand Government's trade and economic development agency. It will run alongside the R & D Leaders Forum and ministerial meeting.

The Innovation Showcase has been developed to provide commercial opportunities for attending APEC Business Delegations and will involve some of New Zealand's leading biotechnology, information and communication technology, creative and niche manufacturing businesses. The programme includes an exhibition, business meetings and site visits for pre-qualified international business delegates, a symposia and some informal sector-based site visits in and around Christchurch.

Through the pre-arranged business meetings and site visits international business delegates including potential investors and business partners will be able to make connections with leading New Zealand businesses. The exhibition will showcase some of New Zealand's most innovative companies and their world leading products and services while the symposia will focus on market opportunities and key New Zealand industry sectors. The half-day visits to selected science, technology or research organisations will provide an opportunity to share best practice examples.

Other APEC economies are also being invited to exhibit examples of their science and technology strengths at the Innovation Showcase exhibition.

There is already keen interest in the high level events being held next year in New Zealand, with New Zealand's track record for innovation in science and technology believed to be a strong drawcard.

New Zealanders are well known for their flair for ingenuity and for thriving on solutions for innovative problem solving, evidenced by three New Zealanders having been named Nobel laureates in the science sector. This includes Maurice Wilkins who received a Nobel Prize in 1962 for elucidation of the structure of DNA, alongside Watson and Crick.

Full Programmes and Speaker Details available at
www.apecscience2004.org.nz

New Zealand success stories in science and technology at
www.marketnewzealand.com

Enquiries and registrations for the APEC meetings to:
info@apecscience2004.org.nz



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The "Tourism Risk Management for the Asia Pacific Region" report has been completed and will be presented to officials from APEC's 21 Member Economies at the 23rd meeting of the Tourism Working Group (TWG) in Bali, Indonesia, on November 29-30.

Developed in response to the damaging effect on the tourism industry of terrorist attacks and the SARS epidemic, the report details key issues and provides recommendations for both government and business to effectively deal with future crises.

This is the first time that Risk Management principles have been applied to the Tourism Industry in such a detailed report.

The report has been prepared by the APEC International Centre for Sustainable Tourism (AICST) in collaboration with universities, governments and tourism operators in the APEC Region.

AICST Chair, Sir Frank Moore, said the report covers a number of potential future crises and uses case studies to draw on the experience of past crises.

"This AICST report offers a broad coverage of risks related to tourism in the Asia Pacific region and strategic approaches to managing these risks," Sir Frank said.

"Adequate planning for what has in the past been seen as the 'unexpected' can be the difference between a well-managed problem and a human and economic disaster.

"The report outlines a series of key tourism themes and recommends actions that should be taken before, during and after a crisis.

"There have already been a number of unfortunate incidents that have occurred in the region and it is important to learn from these experiences.

"These include events such as the Bali bombing and other events such as the SARS Epidemic.

"Crises covered in the report range from terrorist attacks to natural disasters such as earth quakes, to disease epidemics."

Sir Frank said the report also focuses on governments and tourism operators providing timely and accurate information in times of crisis.

"The public is not well served by incorrect information and rumors being reported in the media," Sir Frank said.

"It is essential that the governments and tourist businesses have effective communications strategies in place to actively engage with the media in times of crisis."

After the report has been presented to APEC Member Economy Officials, a press conference will be held in Bali (at a time to be advised).

AICST was established in 2002 by the APEC Tourism Working Group and the Tourism Ministers of the 21 economies of APEC. Its role is to identify and research the major issues that are likely to impact on tourism in the Asia Pacific region in the next 10-15 years. AICST is a cooperative organization of APEC Economies, Universities, and the Tourism Industry.

The Tourism Working Group Meeting will be held in Bali, Indonesia, on November 29 and 30.



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Issued by Improving Mobility of Travelers with Disabilities & Removing Impediments to Tourism Business and Investment

The 23rd meeting of the APEC Tourism Working Group (TWG) is taking place from November 29 to December 1 in Bali, Indonesia to address regional tourism priority issues that include improving travel options for people with disabilities, expanding investment and dealing with the terrorist threat.

The meeting will also officially receive the first risk management strategy to be produced for the tourism industry in the Asia-Pacific Region.

Preliminary TWG meetings began on November 28 and the meeting will be formally opened on 29 November by Mr. Thamrin B. Bachri, Deputy Minister for Capacity Building and International Relations, Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the Republic of Indonesia.

TWG Lead Shepherd, Mr. Auggaphol Brickshawana, said the meeting will address the TWG's four tourism policy goals that have direct impact on comfortable and safe travel in the Asia-Pacific Region.

"I am interested to receive the report from Canada on ensuring best practices for travelers with restricted mobility." Mr. Auggaphol said.

"If a person is unable to walk, see, hear or has any other restriction in their mobility, this should not stop them from traveling and enjoying the world in which we live.

"Travel and being a tourist is one of the greatest experiences in the world and the number of people traveling continues to grow.

"It is my hope that the paper from Canada on travelers with restricted mobility will be a worthwhile tool for tourism operators in the region."

Mr. Auggaphol said other issues to be covered at the meeting include the requirements of dealing with the counter-terrorism for governments and tourism operators, impediments to tourism business and investment, sustainable management of the future tourism industry and the social development role of tourism.

Other important reports that will be presented at the TWG meeting are the APEC Tourism Occupational Skills Standard (APEC TOSS) Study Stage III and the APEC Tourism Risk Management for the Asia Pacific Region that has been prepared respectively by Indonesia and the APEC International Centre for Sustainable Tourism (AICST).

"The APEC APEC TOSS provides platform for tourism industry development and manpower mobility in the region through the establishment of work performance skill standards.

"Whereas the crisis management report provides step by step recommendations for protecting the Asia-Pacific Tourism Industry from severe damage in the event of a disaster or other crisis.

The goals of the TWG are cover most facets of the tourism industry and specially relate to the following areas:

The Removal of Impediments to Tourism Business and Investment

Increase Mobility of Visitors and Demand for Tourism Goods and Services

Sustainable Management of Tourism Outcomes and Impacts.

Enhance Recognition and Understanding of Tourism as a Vehicle to Economic and Social Development



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Issued by the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation International Centre for Sustainable Tourism (AICST)

The APEC "Tourism Risk Management for the Asia Pacific Region" report has been launched at the conclusion of the APEC Tourism Working Group Meeting in Bali.

Prepared by the APEC International Centre for Sustainable Tourism (AICST), the 142 page bound report was developed to provide APEC Member Economies and tourist operators with a framework for responding to the potential future crises affecting the industry.

AICST Chair, Sir Frank Moore, said the report is long overdue as tourism is one of the most important industries in the Asia-Pacific but also one of the most vulnerable to disasters and shocks.

"We hope this Tourism Risk Management Report will save lives, businesses and jobs," Sir Frank said following the report's release.

"Tourism is one of the greatest employers in the region and this is the first time a risk management report has been produced for tourism in the Asia-Pacific.

"The report includes actions and recommendations intended to prevent crises in the first place, but if a crisis does occur, the report outlines measures to be auctioned during and after the crisis.

"Crises affecting the tourism industry can result from many triggers including terrorist attacks, disease epidemics, natural disasters or accidents.

"Drawing on lessons learnt in crises of recent years, the report is a collaborative effort of regional governments, business operators and researches."

Sir Frank said the report also takes an interesting look at the spread of what is called SARS Induced Panic (SIP) and provides lessons for dealing with potential future outbreaks.

"The tourism industry has to question why SARS had such a devastating effect when, in hindsight, SARS was a disease that should have had a relatively minor impact.

"SARS infected far fewer people than are infected by other seasonal outbreaks such as influenza, 97.7% of cases were restricted to five economies and the mode of transmission was identified relatively quickly. Indeed, measles is five times more infectious than SARS.

"Yet Asian tourism was devastated with an estimated seven million jobs and US$30 billion in regional GDP lost. Even destinations that had minimal cases of SARS like Thailand, Korea, Indonesia and the South Pacific saw a 40 to 70% drop in visitor numbers.

"SARS Induced Panic spread in an uncontrollable manner that ironically proved to be far more disastrous than the disease itself.

"It appears that the WHO travel the advisory against Hong Kong on April 2 was the critical incident for the spread of SIP.

"In the Advisory the World Health Organization acknowledged that this was the first time since its inception in 1958 that it had issued such a travel advisory for a specific geographic area because of the outbreak of an infectious disease.

"Reporting a direct link between SARS and travel by the global news media was another strong contributor to SIP.

"A number of governments began to issue unilateral advisories within a week of the WHO Advisory suggesting that people do not travel, in spite of the WHO assurances that travel was still safe.

"The dominoes fell quickly and a number of economies imposed stringent measures that undermined tourist and business travel in the region.

"These included requirements that travelers coming from SARS infected areas wear face masks for two weeks after arrival or risk a jail term, special powers of quarantine were authorized by governments, Chinese visitors were denied entry to some international events and many insurance companies refused to provide coverage for Asia.

"The report notes that while the WHO was certainly within its rights to issue travel advisories, nobody anticipated their impact.

"The experience of SARS has provided a number of valuable lessons to the region that we hope ensures that in the event of a similar future outbreak, panic will not cause such excessive damage."

AICST was established by APEC to identify and research the major issues that are likely to impact on tourism in the Asia Pacific region in the next 10-15 years.

The Tourism Working Group Meeting was held in Bali, Indonesia, on November 29 and 30.



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Issued by the APEC Sub-Group on Research, Development & Extension of Agricultural Biotechnology (RDEAB)

Creating a more transparent environment for the regulation of the biotechnology sector is the focus of the Seventh APEC Workshop on Agricultural Biotechnology currently underway in Beijing, China.

Organized by the APEC Sub-Group on Research, Development and Extension of Agricultural Biotechnology (RDEAB) as an APEC-funded project, the workshop, which begins today and concludes on December 9, is split into two sessions.

The first session, from December 1 to 5, is a forum for the exchange of technical and regulatory information on agricultural biotechnology among APEC Member Economies.

The second session from December 7 to 9 is intended specifically for product regulators to focus on environmental and feed safety assessments of biotechnology products.

The project coordinator, Dr Peng Yu Fa, said the first session will involve people responsible for formulating and implementing agricultural biotechnology policy in APEC Member Economies meeting with industry representatives.

"Biotechnology is sometimes a controversial subject for governments, but with sufficient transparency, communication and planning this would not be the case," Dr Peng said.

"Advances in biotechnology provide opportunities to increase agricultural production and provide more food to millions of people who do not have enough to eat.

"This APEC meeting will be looking at ways in which we can enhance the capacity of Member Economies to efficiently and, above all, safely increase their crop production.

"Delegates have been selected by APEC representatives in each member economy and will provide updates on their economy's approaches and experiences in the biotech sector."

Dr Peng said the second session will look more closely at the safety aspects of biotechnology advances.

"The second session of APEC Biosafety Workshops is designed to increase the capacity of APEC Member Economies regulators to ensure that the growing biotechnology sector is managed responsibly and safely," Dr Peng said.

"This session will be organized by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency and the Chinese Centre for Biosafety Research.

"The central focus of this session will be on conducting environmental and animal feed safety assessments for biotechnology products."

APEC Ministers have instructed the APEC RDEAB to explore the potential benefits of biotechnology for all APEC Member Economies while taking into account issues of consumer food safety and environmental protection.

RDEAB reports to the APEC Agricultural Technical Cooperation Working Group (ATCWG) that was formed to serve as a forum for member economies to enhance their capacity of agriculture and related industries.



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Issued by the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Energy Working Group (EWG)

The APEC Energy Working Group (EWG) will address a number of significant regional energy industry issues when it meets in Seoul, Korea, on December 3-4.

Officials will also advance preparations for the 6th APEC Energy Ministers' Meeting that is scheduled to take place in the Philippines in June 2004.

The APEC Energy Working Group brings together representatives of APEC's 21 Member Economies that collectively account for around 60% of global energy demand.

Chair of the EWG, Mr. John Ryan, said the APEC EWG is an important forum for ensuring efficient and secure access to energy supplies for the people of the Asia-Pacific Region.

"Greater cross border cooperation and technological improvements is creating new business and employment opportunities and delivering more competitive energy options to consumers," Mr. Ryan said.

"The EWG is working to facilitate this process through the development of secure and efficient regional energy supplies and networks for distribution for all APEC Member Economies."

Key Agenda Issues for the 26th EWG Meeting:

Preparedness for energy supply disruption 
This will be the first EWG meeting to take place since the August power outage in the North Eastern United States and Canada which demonstrated the region's reliance on secure and ongoing power supplies. Korea will present a paper on energy emergency response arrangements that are in place in Korea.

Implementation of energy security initiative
At their meeting in Bangkok, APEC Leaders endorsed an implementation and action plan for the APEC Energy Security Initiative. The ESI is a comprehensive strategy developed by the EWG that is made up of measures to respond to temporary supply disruptions and longer-term policy responses to address the broader challenges facing the region's energy supply.

Strengthening interconnection of cross border oil pipelines, gas pipelines & power grids 
To facilitate ongoing energy co-operation, the EWG has undertaken a project to identify and overcome political, technical, economic, regulatory, treaty, legal and financing barriers to interconnection of electricity grids. APEC Energy Ministers have requested the EWG broaden this project to address the interconnection of natural gas, including liquefied natural gas (LNG).

Other issues on the 25th EWG agenda include improving public understanding of energy issues, sharing of energy supply data between economies, earthquake response cooperation, increasing access to energy in developing economies and developing a framework for discussing nuclear energy issues within EWG.

The EWG undertakes a number of self-funded projects and meets formally twice each year. The first meeting for 2003 took place in Portland, Oregon in the United States in June, and the second meeting is taking place in Seoul, Republic of Korea, in December 2003.



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Ambassador Mario Artaza becomes the 12th Executive Director of the APEC Secretariat on the 1st of January 2004. The appointment coincides with the start of the 2004 APEC Year to be hosted by the Republic of Chile after the successful conclusion of the Thai APEC year in 2003.

A former Chilean Ambassador to the United States and the United Kingdom, Ambassador Artaza served in the Chile Foreign Service from 1958 until the military coup in 1973 then returned to government service for Chile in 1990. Between 1974 and 1990 Ambassador Artaza held a series of positions at the World Bank.

Based in Singapore, Ambassador Artaza will lead the operations of the APEC Secretariat as the support base for the new APEC Year to be chaired by Chile. Included in the 2004 APEC programme are nine ministerial meetings, over one hundred working group forums and seminars as well as the annual APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting, in Santiago in November 2004.

Working with the theme for the Chile Year of "One Community, Our Future," Ambassador Artaza said the 2004 APEC Year will highlight the importance of social and capacity building activities in the APEC process working alongside APEC's free trade and investment goals.

"Raising skill levels and strengthening the capacity of all APEC economies to be competitive in the global economy is essential for long term economic growth," Ambassador Artaza said.

"Improving the lives of people through education and training, reducing government red tape and creating an environment with entrepreneurial opportunities are core aspects of APEC's work.

"APEC activities cover a broad range of economic and social issues that are essential for the prosperity and security of the Asia-Pacific.

"A major issue facing APEC Economies this year is getting the Doha Development Agenda round of WTO negotiations back on track.

"This WTO round is a development round and will deliver great benefits to people in developing economies so there is a lot riding on its successful conclusion.

"All APEC Member Economies are committed to advancing the Doha Development Agenda and this year's APEC calendar will provide a number of opportunities to work towards a successful conclusion of this WTO round.

"APEC will also draw on the collective strength of APEC representatives at the WTO to facilitate the process and to strengthen linkages between the work of APEC and the WTO."

The APEC Executive Director is appointed each year by the host economy and serves as the Deputy Executive Director the preceding year. In 2004 the Deputy Executive Director will be Ambassador Choi Seok-young who will become Executive Director when Korea hosts APEC in 2005.

Major APEC Events for 2004 include:

Science Ministers' Meeting, 10-12 March, Christchurch, New Zealand

Education Ministers' Meeting, 29-30 April, Santiago, Chile

Mining Ministers' Meeting, June (tba), Chile

Energy Ministers' Meeting, 04 June, Cebu, Philippines

Ministers Responsible for Trade Meeting, 04-05 June, Pucon, Chile

Transport Ministers' Meeting, 27-29 July, Bali, Indonesia

Finance Ministers' Meeting, 02-03 September, Santiago, Chile

SME Ministers' Meeting, 06-07 October, Santiago, Chile

Joint Ministerial Meeting, 17-18 November, Santiago, Chile

APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting, 20-21 November, Santiago, Chile



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Research & Development Leaders from the APEC region have a unique opportunity to influence how their economies capture value from science when they meet in Christchurch from March 10 to 11.

Those who drive R&D in both private and public enterprises in the APEC region, will meet to explore and debate the theme of 'capturing value from science', with input from leading experts from around the globe.

At the end of the two day meeting R&D leaders will sit down with APEC Science Ministers, gathering for the first time since 1998, and have direct input into their thinking.

The R&D Leaders programme and line-up of speakers reflects the demand for science to generate economic wealth. Speakers include:

Dr Gregory Yurek, President, CEO and Chairman of the Board of American Superconductor Corporation 
Dr Lee Ki-Won, Executive Vice President of Samsung Electronics, Korea 
Professor Tom Furness, Director Human Interface Technology Lab, University of Washington, USA and University of Canterbury, New Zealand 
Dr Cristian Samper, Director, Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, (Washington, DC) 
Dr Rita Colwell, Director of the US National Science Foundation 
Yoshio Matsumi, Executive Counsellor and General Manager of the Innovative Technology Business Development Office for the Itochu Corporation 
Professor Alan MacDiarmid, winner of the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2000 and Professor of Chemistry at the University of Pennsylvania
R&D leaders meeting in Christchurch will also get to see world leading science and technology from New Zealand and other APEC economies at the accompanying Innovation Showcase, which will provide a series of commercial opportunities for APEC business delegations.

The full calendar for the 4th APEC Ministers'' Meeting on Regional Science and Technology Cooperation and associate meetings is as follows:  

DateMeeting March 08-0926th Meeting of Industrial Science and Technology Working Group    March 10-115th APEC R&D Leaders' Forum    March 10-124th APEC Ministers' Meeting on Regional Science and Technology Cooperation
Registrations are requested before 31 January at: www.apecscience2004.org.nz



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The Chair of APEC's Counter Terrorism Task Force (CTTF) has presented the Interpol Executive Police Conference on Counter Terrorism with details of APEC's strategy to build the capacity of developing economies to improve security.

Ambassador Makarim Wibisono told the meeting of senior police officers in Bali that APEC's counter terrorism programs start with identifying the needs of developing economies to build their capacity to counter the terrorist threat.

"The need to strengthen the institutional capacity of governments to combat terrorism is essential for protecting the people and economy of the Asia Pacific region," Ambassador Wibisono told the conference.

"These needs are being coordinated between the APEC Counter Terrorism Task Force and international organizations such as Interpol and the ADB to match each economy's unique situation.

"APEC's programs aim to strengthen security against terrorist threats while simultaneously boosting trade efficiency.

"APEC Member Economies have prepared individual Counter-Terrorism Action Plans listing specific counter terrorism objectives. These plans are now being analyzed by APEC working groups to identify gaps in the region's counter-terrorism capacity and to seek ways to strengthen security in these areas.

"APEC supports the efforts of law enforcement and other security officials by working with other international organizations and helping to build political will for the implementation of new security standards.

"APEC initiatives to protect critical infrastructure, track terrorist finances and prevent the movement of terrorists across borders is contributing to the work of law enforcement agencies. These measures are aiding governments in their efforts to apprehend terrorists and to prevent attacks from taking place."

Ambassador Wibisono said while building free trade and investment in the region remains the central focus of APEC activities, terrorism poses a major threat to achieving these goals.

"Terrorism not only destroys the lives and property of individuals, but also undermines entire economies, erodes market confidence and inflates the cost of trade.

The next meeting of the APEC Counter Terrorism Task Force will take place on Mach 1 in Santiago, Chile where capacity building will be one of the main agenda items.



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Access to finance, new technologies, marketing skills and the empowerment of women entrepreneurs are identified in a new APEC report as essential for the development and success of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in the tourism industry.

The Development Needs of Small to Medium Size Tourism Businesses' report has been compiled by the APEC International Centre for Sustainable Tourism (AICST) in conjunction with a number of universities, small business owners and governments in the APEC Region.

The report, which is being released today, is available at the APEC Secretariat Website.

AICST Executive Director, Mr. Ian Kean, said the report identifies efforts underway in each of APEC's 21 Member Economies to deal with the development of tourism SMEs.

"Small business is the heart and soul of the tourism industry but often due to size they lack access to many of the resources and opportunities that larger businesses take for granted," Mr. Kean said.

"Usually operating with informal business structures, a small number of staff and limited options for external finance, SMEs are repeatedly left to learn the 'hard way' in business.

"While high self-motivation enables many SMEs to overcome obstacles, this report identifies a number of difficulties that require coordinated strategies from governments and business owners themselves.

"Fortunately there are many government initiatives and programs from local industry groups that are working to meet these needs. It is now a question of encouraging SMEs to take advantage of available resources.

Mr. Kean said the report also highlights the growing role of women entrepreneurs in the tourism industry, but warns greater effort is needed in some regions to fully expand the opportunities for women business operators.

"Looking around the regional economy, in both industrialized and developing economies, there are examples where women are not able to participate fully in local business," Mr. Kean said.

"This is due to barriers including low wages, and a lack of access to capital, skills training, market facilities and new technology.

"Women entrepreneurs are of particular interest to this study with research demonstrating their superior efficacy in business and the growing importance of women entrepreneurs in many economies."

As well as general analysis of each of APEC's 21 Member Economies, the report also contains in-depth results from a series of parallel studies carried out in Australia, Chinese Taipei, Mexico and Thailand that examine the tourism business development needs of small businesses.

AICST was established by APEC Tourism Working Group and Tourism Ministers to identify and research the major issues likely to impact on tourism in the APEC Region over the next 10 to 15 years. AICST is a cooperative of APEC Member Economies, universities and representatives of the tourism industry.



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"New Zealand is on track to achieving the Bogor Goals and for that we commend them" said Brunei's Senior APEC Official, Lim Jock Hoi.

The statement was made in summing up the discussion of New Zealand's performance which took place during an APEC meeting in Phuket, Thailand.

"It would only be beneficial for every APEC economy to learn from New Zealand, monitor its reform progress, and ideally apply these lessons to their own economies, in the expectation that that this will bring about economic prosperity for the whole APEC region", said Lim Jock Hoi.

The peer review of New Zealand's Individual Action Plan, which sets out progress towards achieving the "Bogor Goals" of free and open trade and investment within the APEC region by the year 2010, was based around an independent report prepared by Dr. Junsok Yang, Professor of Law and Economics at the Catholic University of Korea.

Dr. Yang said as an economy that has already undertaken significant trade reforms New Zealand is in a strong position to deal with changes in the global economy.

"Market-oriented reforms allow a more flexible economy, which allows small open economies such as New Zealand to weather domestic and foreign shocks," Dr. Yang said in the Report.

"New Zealand has been one of the leaders in instituting market friendly and market opening reforms, ever since the financial crisis of 1984, when the reforms played a crucial part in New Zealand's recovery from that financial crisis.

Dr. Yang noted however that while reforms had been rapid from 1985 to 1994, they have been slower in recent years.

"Since 2000, New Zealand seems to be in a period of careful consideration and stocktaking of past reforms, including those related to market liberalization. Due to the strength and the wide-ranging nature of New Zealand's reforms in the past twenty years, the desire for such stocktaking is understandable."

In the area of tariffs Dr. Yang said that compared with most other APEC economies "New Zealand on the whole, maintains low average applied tariff rates."

"New Zealand's overall simple applied tariff rate is 3.7%, and it maintains an extensive set of tariff preferences for developing countries and least developed countries under its GSP program."

"New Zealand maintains transparency in its tariff regime through advance notices on its website and Customs News and Information Releases. Information on tariff rates is accessible through the Internet."

"In the area of non-tariff barriers (NTBs), New Zealand has almost completely achieved the Bogor Goals already, and mostly unilaterally."

On the issue of government procurement of goods and services, the report found that the New Zealand's government procurement system is generally open, and on track to achieving the Bogor Goals.

"Central government procurement is already liberalized and open, while local government procurement is largely non-discriminatory, though limited measures of price preferences exist in some local governments."

"The devolved nature of New Zealand's government means that responsibility for procurement is devolved to individual ministries and departments."

Trade with APEC member economies form about 73% of New Zealand's total exports, and about 72% of New Zealand's total imports.

New Zealand believes that comprehensive, open Free Trade Agreements can act as valuable building blocks toward the Bogor Goals, and has participated actively in the APEC discussions on the role of FTAs. However, as with most other WTO members, New Zealand gives its highest priority to the WTO-based multilateral system, including the current negotiations under the Doha Development Agenda.

APEC's Bogor Goals were set at the meeting of APEC Leaders in Bogor, Indonesia, in 1994 and set the target of achieving free and open trade and investment in the Asia-Pacific Region by the year 2010 for industrialised economies and 2020 for developing economies.

The New Zealand 'Individual Action Plan Study Report' and a Fact Sheet on the role and objectives of Individual Action Plan peer reviews are now available.



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An independent report has found that "Korea has made impressive overall progress" towards achieving APEC's free trade and investment goals.

The findings were presented in the 'Individual Action Plan (IAP) Study Report' on Korea's progress towards APEC's 'Bogor Goals' of free and open trade and investment by the year 2020.

Presented to a "Peer Review Session" of representatives from APEC member economies in Phuket, Thailand, the report is an assessment of how well individual member economies are progressing towards APEC's free trade and investment goals.

The Individual Action Plan (IAP) Study Report was prepared by Dr. Robert Scollay, Associate Professor of Economics at the University of Auckland, who noted that as Korea has actively sought to become the northeast Asian business "hub" there had been strong emphasis on liberalization and reform from Korea's political leadership.

"As in all periods of major economic reform, political commitment has been a crucial factor behind the progress that has been achieved to date, and a continuation of that political commitment will also be crucial in building on that success," Dr. Scollay stated in the report.

Korea's Senior Official at the review session, Deputy Minister for Trade Negotiation, Dr. Kim Hyun-Chong, said Korea's renewed vigor towards pursuing economic reforms are a central element of Korean Government policy.

"President Roh gave all ministers a clear message to be proactive in identifying and addressing areas for reform," Dr. Kim.

"Be prepared to change everything but your spouses to create a new paradigm in implementing economic reforms" was the message the President conveyed to government officials on the issue of economic reform.

"Korea's determination in the area of economic reform will take us to our objective of an average per capita income of $20,000 and does not let us get stuck at the current average per capital income of $10,000."

Dr. Scollay said that in the area of encouraging and facilitating Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) the review found that "Korea has made impressive progress in liberalizing its FDI regime and in enhancing the transparency of its policy toward FDI.

"The Korean government has actively set out to identify areas for further improvement, and progress towards enhancing the environment for FDI continues to be made, despite resistance from some sections of Korean society."

The report noted that Korea remains committed to reform and achieving their free trade and investment goals and that there have been considerable reductions of Korean tariffs since 1996. The report also makes the point that there are challenges involved in reducing agricultural tariffs.

"Although the degree of applied tariff reduction has accordingly been modest, Korean non-agricultural tariffs are generally at 8% or lower and can accordingly be considered within 'striking distance' of the Bogor objectives.

"The same cannot be said of tariffs on agricultural products, which remain very high on average. As is well-known, Korea faces major political challenges in achieving significant progress on agricultural tariffs."

At the same time the report notes Korea's progress in removing Non-tariff Measures stating that "Korea has eliminated all but one of the remaining quantitative restrictions in line with its WTO obligations. The abolition of the Import Diversification Scheme removed the most significant remaining non-tariff barriers."

The review congratulates Korea on its progress in bringing Korea into alignment with the global economy in relation to Standards and Conformance.

"Korea has been actively pursuing the different elements of APEC's standards and conformance agenda. Progress in aligning Korean standards with international standards has been particularly impressive."

In the area of enhancing the transparency of regulatory regimes eliminating domestic regulations that may distort or restrict trade, investment or competition, the report was positive.

"The scale and scope of Korea's activity in this area over the last five years can only be described as very impressive - and not fully captured in Korea's IAP. Strong political will has been the key to the progress that has been achieved.

"The need to maintain both momentum and coherence in such a far-reaching program is both a challenge and a source of further demands for regulatory improvement."

Dr. Scollay also notes in the report that Korea has also taken "significant steps to open its government procurement system and to fulfill APEC objectives in this area."

"Korea adopts a principle of reciprocity in opening its government procurement market under which all signatories of the WTO Government Procurement Agreement are eligible to participate in international tendering and the appeal procedures available through the International Contract Dispute Mediation Committee."

"Korea has traditionally placed high importance on APEC. In 2001 APEC Member economies accounting for 70% of Korea's exports, 67% of its imports, 62% of inward FDI into Korea, and 67% of Korea's own investment overseas.

"The contribution to sustained economic growth in the Asia-Pacific region from expansion of trade, investment and economic cooperation in the region as promoted by APEC is seen as critical for Korea's own growth and prosperity.

The 'Individual Action Plan Study Report' for Korea and a Fact Sheet on the role and objectives of Individual Action Plan peer reviews are now available.



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Hong Kong, China has been described as "a model APEC citizen, and one from which some important lessons can be derived" in an independent peer review of Hong Kong, China's individual action plan to reach APEC's Bogor Goals on free trade and investment.

The comments were made by the expert who compiled the Individual Action Plan Study Report, Professor John McKay, at the review session taking place during the recent round of APEC Senior Official's Meetings in Phuket, Thailand.

"The government is to be congratulated for its continued support of economic reform, and for its longstanding advocacy of the multilateral system of trade and investment," Professor McKay said in the report.

Established at a meeting of APEC Economic Leaders in Bogor, Indonesia, in 1994, the Bogor Goals set the target of free and open trade and investment for industrialized economies no later than the year 2010 and for developing economies no later than the year 2020.

In his report, Professor Mckay, who is also the Director of the Australian APEC Study Centre, said that despite the current economic pressure on Hong Kong, China, the government has maintained its free trade agenda.

"My most important conclusion, and one which should be noted by all APEC members, is that the response of the government of Hong Kong, China to the range of very serious economic problems now facing it is not to retreat into some kind of defensive protectionism," Professor McKay said.

"Rather, these challenges have called forth a redoubling of efforts to speed up reform and search for new ways of seeking efficiencies.

"The government remains committed to free market approaches and to the encouragement of competition as the basic rationale for most of its policy settings.

"It also sees these philosophies as the only ones that can help it to maintain and strengthen its long-term strategic position as a leading regional and global financial and services centre."

The Moderator of the session at which the report was reviewed by other APEC member economies, Mr J Jayasiri, supported the comments by stating that the Peer Review has confirmed that "Hong Kong, China is one of the most open economies in the world."

Mr J Jayasiri, who is also the Senior Official of Malaysia, welcomed Hong Kong, China's progress towards the APEC Bogor Goals.

"Hong Kong, China maintains a very liberal tariff and non-tariff regime with only 4 dutiable items.

"It is anticipated that Hong Kong, China would continue upgrading market institutions, infrastructure, governance and transparency to preserve its existing advantages and look for ways to enhance its competitive edge.

Despite the recognition as the most open economy and a model APEC citizen, Hong Kong, China is facing some important economic challenges. A key challenge is how to maintain Hong Kong, China as a major global and regional financial centre. Despite the challenges, Hong Kong, China is determined to keep protectionism at bay with continuation of domestic reforms."

In his report, Professor McKay also discussed some of the challenges facing the Hong Kong, China economy in recent years.

"Particular attention is paid to those sectors that in the past have received some criticism from commentators, notably competition policy and customs procedures," Professor McKay said.

It is concluded that in both these areas, Hong Kong, China has made considerable progress, although debate continues on the best way to structure competition policy.

"Discussions will continue on some details of policy approaches in area like competition policy, but such debates about the best ways of achieving agreed outcomes are useful within the organization.

"As a last word I can only echo the opinion of the WTO Trade Policy Review discussants, Mr. Francisco Prieto of Chile, who concluded that "Hong Kong, China's free trade regime and competition policy is a classic textbook case which illustrates a market economy at work".

The 'Individual Action Plan Study Report' for Hong Kong, China is available on the e-IAP website.

and a Fact Sheet on the role and objectives of Individual Action Plan peer reviews are available at:

Fact Sheet - APEC Individual Action Plan Peer Reviews



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APEC Finance Ministers will address the key issues confronting the regional economy at the Tenth annual APEC Finance Ministers' Meeting in Phuket, Thailand, on 4-5 September.

Issues already on the agenda under the policy theme of "Local/Regional Link, Global Reach: A New APEC Financial Cooperation," include Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) development, regional bond market development and the fiscal and financial aspects of regional trade arrangements.

Over the past nine years, the APEC Finance Ministers' process has proven to be a valuable forum for assessing the regional economic and financial situation and promoting sustainable economic growth in the region.

Past Finance Ministers Meetings have placed emphasis on issues such as economic restructuring, financial stability, capacity building and facilitating broader regional cooperation. The 1997-1998 Asian financial crisis presented particular challenges for the Finance Ministers to deal with, and following the September 11 terrorist attacks in the United States, APEC Finance Ministers carried out a substantial amount of work on combating the financing of terrorism and money laundering.

There are currently ten on-going policy initiatives taking place under the Finance Ministers' process:

Developing Human Capital

Financial Regulators Training Initiative

APEC Future Economic Leaders' Think Tank

APEC Finance and Development Program

Developing Stable, Safe and Efficient Capital Markets

Voluntary Action Plan for Supporting Freer and More Stable Capital Flows

APEC Initiative on Alternative Remittance Systems

Strengthening Economic Infrastructure

Managing Regulatory Change in Life Insurance and Pensions

Pathfinder Initiative on Corporate Governance

Insolvency Law

APEC Privatization Forum

Development of Securitization and Credit Guarantee Markets

APEC Finance Ministers' Official Website: www.APECFMM2003.org

Media Registration must be made in person at the Finance Minister's Meeting Press Centre at the Banburi and Chaba Room, Allamanda Laguna Phuket Hotel.

Telephone: +66 (0)7632 6099 or +66 (0)7632 6100, Fax: +66 (0)7632 6101. 
Media personnel require an original letter of assignment from their organization, press identification card and a passport photograph.



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The Joint Ministerial Statement from the Tenth APEC Finance Ministers' Meeting has been posted on the APEC Secretariat Website.

Working under the policy theme of "Local/Regional Link, Global Reach: A New APEC Financial Cooperation" the ministers met with the aim of fostering greater financial linkages and closer economic ties in the Asia-Pacific region.

The Joint Ministerial Statement covers recent economic developments in the APEC Region and the sub-themes that were addressed in the Finance Ministers' Meeting. These sub-themes are "Grass-Roots and Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) Development," "Regional Bond Market Development" and "Fiscal and Financial Aspects of Regional Trade Arrangements."

The Joint Ministerial Statement also features a progress report on a series of policy initiatives that are underway:

Voluntary Action Plan for Supporting Freer and More Stable Capital Flows

Financial Regulators Training Initiative

Managing Regulatory Change in Life Insurance and Pensions

Pathfinder Initiative on Corporate Governance

Insolvency Law

APEC Privatization Forum

APEC Initiative on Alternative Remittance Systems

APEC Finance and Development Program

APEC Future Economic Leaders' Think Tank

Development of Securitization and Credit Guarantee Markets

The Eleventh APEC Finance Ministers' Meeting has now been scheduled for Santiago, Chile, on 2-3 September 2004.

The next major APEC events for 2003 will be the meetings leading up to the annual APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting in Bangkok, Thailand.

APEC Investment Mart, 16-21 October

15th APEC Ministerial Meeting, 17-18 October

4th Meeting of APEC Business Advisory Council, 18-21 October

CEO Summit, 18-22 October

11th APEC Leaders' Meeting, 20-21 October



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As part of the program to officially open the new APEC Secretariat Building this Saturday, September 6, a public seminar on "APEC and Globalization" will be held and include the participation of:

Hon Bob Hawke, Former Prime Minister of Australia

Dr Lin Fang-mei, Minister, National Youth Commission, Chinese Taipei

Mr Tej Bunnag, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand and 2003 Chair of the APEC Senior Officials Meeting

Mr Timothy Ong, Prominent Business Leader and Publisher of Asia Inc.

Mr David Parsons, Director General of the Pacific Economic Cooperation Council Secretariat

Dr Richard E. Feinberg, Professor of International Political Economy, and Director APEC Study Center, University of California

Following the "APEC and Globalization Seminar" the APEC Secretariat building will be officially opened at a ceremony beginning at 6pm.

The APEC Secretariat building is a purpose built facility that is provided by the Government of Singapore. Further details concerning the opening of the APEC Secretariat building will be provided by Singapore Ministry of Foreign Affairs later in the week.

APEC Secretariat Executive Director, Ambassador Piamsak Milintachinda, said that discussions and debates on globalization are essential so as to seek solutions to the more complicated issues involved in the globalization process.

"Globalization is a controversial issue, but at the same time is a process that is both unstoppable and offers many benefits to the people of the regional and global economy," Ambassador Milintachinda said.

"Increasing the economic, cultural and social interaction between the people of the world carries with it great potential to increase trade, create jobs and raise living standards.

"It is important for all stakeholders in the global economy to take an interest in this process and debate the best ways for globalization to benefit all people.

"We hope the issues discussed by members of the government and private sector at this APEC forum will contribute to APEC's contribution to the global economy and increased globalization.

"The participation of such esteemed officials from government, the private sector and academia highlights the importance and relevance of this debate on APEC and the globalization process."


Date:   6 September 2003   
Time:   2:30pm APEC and Globalization Seminar 
            6:00pm Official Opening of the APEC Secretariat Building   
Venue:   APEC Secretariat Building, 35 Heng Mui Keng Terrace, Singapore. 



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The APEC Counter Terrorism Task Force (CTTF) has prepared a series of guidelines for businesses of all sizes to strengthen the security of their supply chains.

The "APEC Private Sector Supply Chain Security Guidelines" provide a series of straightforward measures that firms can use to improve the security of their operations.

The guidelines cover areas such as the physical security of business premises, personnel security, education and training programs, document processing security, and crisis management and disaster recovery procedures.

Chairman of the Counter Terrorism task Force, Ambassador Makarim Wibisono, said it is important that all business managers in the APEC region are aware of procedures and measures that can be taken to maintain preparedness against terrorist or criminal threats.

"The guidelines we have developed are simple, uncomplicated and can be applied to most business environments," Ambassador Wibisono said.

"Private sector firms and industry trade associations can use the APEC recommendations to evaluate the security of their supply chain processes."

Ambassador Wibisono said the guidelines have been prepared in consultation with the private sector and customs authorities and are intended to be "business friendly."

"In preparing the guidelines, the APEC Counter Terrorism Task Force took note of the recent APEC Customs-Business Dialogue that called for measures relating to increased supply chain security to be uncomplicated and business friendly.

"The primary concern from a security perspective is protecting business activities in APEC Economies from being compromised by terrorists, criminals or anyone else attempting to disrupt trade in the region.

"These guidelines have been developed through recommendations from the World Customs Organization, the Business Anti-Smuggling Coalition, the U.S. Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism, and from private sector experts within various APEC economies."

The APEC Private Sector Supply Chain Security Guidelines were originally presented to APEC Senior Officials at their recent meeting in Phuket, Thailand, and are now available to the business community.



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The Prime Minister of Singapore, H.E. Goh Chok Tong, and the Prime Minister of Thailand, H.E. Thaksin Shinawatra who is also the APEC 2003 Chair will officially open the new APEC Secretariat Building in Singapore on Saturday, September 6.

The opening ceremony will take place after the "APEC and Globalization" seminar that will include the participation of:

Hon. Bob Hawke, Former Prime Minister of Australia

Dr Lin Fang-mei, Minister, National Youth Commission, Chinese Taipei

Mr. Tej Bunnag, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand and Chair of the APEC Senior Officials Meeting

Mr. Timothy Ong, Prominent Business Leader and Publisher of Asia Inc.

Mr. David Parsons, Director General of the Pacific Economic Cooperation Council Secretariat

Dr Richard Feinberg, Professor of International Political Economy, and Director APEC Study Center, University of California

APEC Secretariat Executive Director, Ambassador Piamsak Milintachinda, said the participation of the Singapore and Thai Prime Ministers and other senior members of the international community highlights the regional importance of the APEC process.

"APEC is made up of 21 member economies stretching from Russia through East Asia, Oceania and North and South America.

"Each year we bring together the Economic Leaders, Ministers and Officials of APEC Member economies to reduce barriers to trade, build the regional economy and raise living standards.

"APEC operates in a number of areas that have direct impact on regional economic growth. These range from trade facilitation and measures to cut red tape, to human capacity building and developing measures to safeguard against terrorism and infectious diseases such as SARS.

"The Secretariat was first established in Singapore ten years ago and since then has continued to serve as the core support mechanism of the APEC process.

"This year the host economy for major APEC meetings is Thailand and we are honored to have the Prime Minister participate in the opening of the Secretariat Building."

The APEC Secretariat building is a purpose built facility for the APEC process that is provided by the Government of Singapore on grounds adjacent to the National University of Singapore.

Media are invited to cover the APEC and Globalization Seminar and the Secretariat Building Opening attended by Prime Minister Goh and Prime Minister Thaksin. There will also be a brief doorstop interview opportunity.

Media are required to register online via: www.apecsec.org.sg or direct link at http://203.127.220.66/apec/news_media/media_acrd.php

Date:  6 September 2003   
Time:  2:30pm APEC and Globalization Seminar  
           6:00pm Official Opening of the APEC Secretariat Building   
Venue:  APEC Secretariat Building, 35 Heng Mui Keng Terrace, Singapore. 

An APEC video news release will be issued at 0230-0240 gmt via the Reuters World News Service. Details of satellite paths are available on the APEC Secretariat website www.apecsec.org.sg



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Issued by the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Smart Border Symposium

Innovative measures to prevent cross-border terrorist activities but permit the rapid movement of legitimate goods, services and people have been demonstrated at the APEC Smart Border Symposium in Vancouver from September 29-October 1.

The APEC Smart Border Symposium was organized by Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters (CME), was supported by the Human Security Program and the Asia Pacific Conference and Research Fund of Canada's Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade. 
Mr. Werner Knittel, Vice President of Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters said the demonstration of the successful smart border model developed by Canada and the United States attracted a great deal of interest from the representatives of APEC's 21 Member Economies.

"APEC members are eager to learn from each other to adopt new measures that will enable free and open trade and also ensure the well being of their citizens," Mr. Knittel said.

"The success of the Canada-US Smart Border Agreement has now been studied closely by other APEC economies and this sharing of information and procedures will contribute to the security of the Asia-Pacific region.

"Measures implemented under the Canada-US Smart Border Agreement are based on the principle of risk management through the use of new technologies and intelligence filtering.

"Applying these measures enables border protection resources to be concentrated on higher-risk people and goods which then enable low-risk movements to pass efficiently through border points."

The symposium featured presentations from a number of Canadian and U.S. federal government departments and the private sector, and showcased various aspects of the Canada-US Smart Border Agreement in action. The sites visited by APEC Member Economy Representatives included the port of Vancouver, the Vancouver Airport and the Pacific Highway/Blaine Border Crossing. These locations were chosen to give participants an overview of how the Smart Border Agreement has impacted on sea, air and land transportation and travel.

The APEC Smart Border Symposium initiative is part of APEC's comprehensive response to terrorism that will be further advanced at the APEC Leaders' meeting in Bangkok on 20-21 October.

Canada and the United States released the Smart Border Declaration and committed to a 30-point Action Plan on December 12, 2001. This blueprint for action has four pillars of the secure flow of people, the secure flow of goods, secure infrastructure and information sharing, and coordination in the enforcement of these objectives.



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Issued by the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Telecommunications and Information Working Group (APEC TEL)

Providing more cost effective access to telecommunications, expanding broadband internet access and making communications infrastructure more secure from cyber attack are some of the key objectives of the 28th APEC Telecommunications and Information Working Group Meeting in Chinese Taipei on October 4-10.

To meet its commitment of assisting in the development of more secure and accessible communications and information infrastructure and the facilitation of free trade in telecommunications products and services, the APEC TEL Meetings will cover a number of areas that have direct benefit for people in APEC economies.
Salma Jalife, Chair of the APEC TEL, said these objectives have been set by APEC Leaders in order to expand access to and protect information and telecommunications services in the APEC Region.

"One of the key targets that will be reviewed at the APEC TEL Meeting is progress towards the APEC goal of extending at least community based Internet access to all people in the APEC region by 2010," Ms Jalife said.

"This target was set as part of the Digital Divide Blueprint for Action that also sets the goal of tripling of Internet access in the APEC Region by 2005."

Ms Jalife said the APEC TEL Meeting will also include a workshop on the policy and technological requirements of expanding broadband internet access the APEC region.

"Expanding broadband access will enable the private sector to participate more fully in the knowledge based economy that is essential for the development of the region," Salma Jalife said.

"The obstacles and opportunities relating to broadband Internet access will be presented by communications professionals, business people and government sector personnel who are currently working on the ongoing expansion of broadband Internet access in member economies."

The APEC TEL Chair said that as the region has become increasingly dependent on the internet for business activities, online security has become a high priority.

"The protection of internet systems is critical to the APEC Region's economic stability and security.

"With the incidents of cyber attack by way of malicious codes or hackers growing each year, there is a clear need for the establishment of and cooperation amongst Computer Emergency Response Teams (CERTs) throughout the region.

"If each APEC economy had access to a local CERT it is expected that cyber attacks against online computer infrastructure would be minimized as the attack could be shut down quickly by the CERT at its source.

"The recent spate of attacks by worm viruses and other malicious codes on internet infrastructure serve as stern warnings of the dangers currently faced in the cyber world."

The 28th APEC TEL Meeting will be attended by around 300 delegates from APEC's 21 Member Economies and involve a number of related workshops and seminars including:

Telecommunications Liberalisation

The WTO Telecoms Reference Paper

On-line Content Promotion

Website Accessibility

Mutual Recognition Agreements

APEC TEL's Program of Action covers the implementation of the e-APEC Strategy and the implementation of the Digital Divide Blueprint for Action, promoting policy and regulatory measures to liberalise trade and investment in the telecommunications and information sector, e-security, e-government, mutual recognition arrangements for the conformity assessment of telecommunications equipment, human capacity building and an active dialogue with the business community.

APEC has also released an online version of the "E-Commerce Strategies for Rural SMEs in APEC." A core objective of this project is identifying success criteria for Information Communications Technology projects in the rural areas of the APEC region.

The report notes that one way to accomplish this is to review selected case studies in terms of what worked and what did not. A total of seven case studies are included in this report, with one serving as a benchmark example for SMEs in the agricultural sector. The report is available at: www.apec.org

Further details are available at: www.apectel28.com.tw



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Issued by Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Telecommunications and Information Working Group (APEC TEL)

Business and government representatives have agreed to work together to address cybersecurity and cybercrime in the APEC region.

An important part of this work will include the development of a"tool kit" for use by corporations and SMEs to assess the electronic security measures required to protect their assets and investments.

These commitments were made during a dialogue conducted as part of the 28th session of the APEC Telecommunications and Information Working Group (APEC TEL) that began in Taipei on October 4.

Representatives from the Asia Oceania Electronic Marketplace Association (AOEMA), the Global Business Dialogue on Electronic Commerce (GBDe), and Microsoft agreed to work with the APEC TEL to develop the "tool kit."

Michael Baker, Executive Director, AOEMA said the tool kit will enable business to implement cost effective security measures appropriate to the level of risk to their information assets and systems.

"Information and network assets are as important as financial assets for companies" said Mr. Tomohiko Yamakawa from the GBDe.

"Protecting information and network assets and, at the same time, making the best use of them are essential elements of corporate strategy."

Steve Orlowski, Chair of the eSecurity Task Group which convened the meeting, said there has to be a coordinated effort between the public and private sectors to build a secure computing environment.

"Cybersecurity and cybercrime are not issues that can be addressed by government or business in isolation," Mr. Orlowski said.

"Governments can provide the regulatory environment but they rely on business and users to implement measures to protect their systems and to assist law enforcement in investigating cybercrime.

"Protecting essential telecommunications infrastructure requires global solutions and this means governments and businesses cannot work in isolation.

"This government to business dialogue was an initiative of APEC Leaders through their commitment to improve the capacity of member economies to address cybercrime.

"APEC TEL is working with economies to enhance their cybercrime legislation and enforcement capacity, and to develop computer emergency response teams that can exchange threat and vulnerability information."

Mr. Orlowski said that in response to the needs of business and government, "APEC is also working with European, American and Asian standards bodies and business groups to provide a global framework for secure and legally enforceable cross-border electronic transactions.

"Our aim is for users in all APEC economies to be able to use electronic signatures on their transactions and these will be recognised in all jurisdictions in the same way as a written signature."



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Issued by the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Telecommunications and Information Working Group (APEC TEL)

Building awareness and developing standards to protect the rights of all sectors of the community to access online resources will be the focus of the APEC Telecommunications and Information Working Group (APEC TEL) "Web Site Accessibility Seminar" in Chinese Taipei on October 4.

The dramatic growth of government services provided online has made life easier for millions of people around the APEC Region but at the same time there is concern that e-government expansion could reduce access to government services for some members of the community.

Director of the Asia Oceania Electronic Marketplace Association, Michael Baker, said the "APEC Web Accessibility Seminar" will bring together experts from the private sector and government to identify minimum recommended standards for ensuring universal access to online resources.

"In the physical world we assist handicapped citizens by providing ramps, elevators and Braille signs in public facilities," Baker said.

"In the online world we must strive to provide universal access, regardless of age, disability, culture, language, literacy, and computer skills.

"Putting up a website is only a first step in building an online presence. Making it usable and accessible to everyone is the critical next step, and in many APEC economies, it is now the law."

Mr. Baker said that as the Internet has penetrated all facets of life, "website accessibility is increasingly considered a civil right and laws are being passed in many economies to ensure compliance."

In Australia, a person won a complaint of web inaccessibility against the Sydney Organizing Committee for the Olympic Games under the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA).

In the United States the applicability of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) to web sites has been addressed in documents and case law.

America Online (AOL) has settled a lawsuit with the National Federation of the Blind (NFB).

Major US banks have signed agreements to provide accessible online banking.

This APEC TEL seminar will feature speakers who have experience in dealing with website access issues in the APEC Region including senior personnel from private sector firms including IBM and Microsoft, and from the Chinese Taipei, Australian and Mexican Governments.

The "Website Accessibility Seminar" will take place as part of the 28th APEC TEL Meeting on October 4 - 10 in Taipei, Chinese Taipei.

Visit: www.apectel28.com.tw



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Issued by the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Business Advisory Council (ABAC)

Asia-Pacific business executives will hold their annual joint forum with the Leaders of APEC Member Economies in Bangkok on Monday, October 20.

The dialogue will take place during the APEC Leaders' Meeting to be held on October 20-21 and the meeting of the APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC) on October 17-21.

ABAC Chair, Dr. Viphandh Roengpithya, said the annual meeting with APEC Leaders is an opportunity for the Asia-Pacific business community to have its collective voice heard by the leaders of economies representing over half of world trade.

"There are a number of issues that have a direct impact on regional business that ABAC will discuss with the Leaders," Dr. Viphandh said.

"Continuing uncertainty in the global economy, recent terrorist acts, the SARS epidemic and the latest developments in the WTO Doha Development Agenda that have eroded business confidence are some of the issues that require ongoing collective responses between the private and public sectors."

"These developments highlighted our interdependence and the importance of maintaining relations and regional coordination in responding to transnational problems."

"Regional safety and security are essential for stable markets and the facilitation of a business environment that provides jobs and increased prosperity for all.

"ABAC is looking forward to presenting the views of the APEC business community to the Leaders in our October meeting."

ABAC recently released its Report to APEC Economic Leaders, "Harmony in Diversity: Achieving Balanced and Equitable Growth."

The report is ABAC's formal set of recommendations to Leaders and this year calls for:

Renewed Leadership in advancing the Doha Development Agenda and in achieving the Bogor Goals.

The ongoing implementation of initiatives to enhance secure and efficient trade and finance.

Focus on capacity-building measures.

Measures to strengthen good governance and transparency.

Improve APEC's ability to respond to future crises.

Keep APEC accessible to business.

The private-sector arm of the APEC forum, ABAC is made up of up to three senior business representatives from each of APEC's 21 member economies. These representatives are appointed by their respective heads of economy to advise APEC Economic Leaders and Ministers on issues affecting regional business.

Press Arrangements:
The Press will be welcome to photograph the beginning of the Opening Plenary Session at 9:00 a.m. on Saturday, 18 October, at Ballroom I of the Royal Orchid Sheraton Hotel and Towers, 2 Captain Bush Lane, New Road, Siphya, Bangkok 10500; Tel: +66 2 266 0123; Fax: +66 2 237 2154.

The will be a press conference with the ABAC Chair and Working Group/Committee Chairs at 11:50 a.m., Tuesday, 21 October, at the Pompadour Room of the Royal Orchid Sheraton Hotel and Towers, 2 Captain Bush Lane, New Road, Siphya, Bangkok 10500; Tel: +66 2 266 0123; Fax: +66 2 237 2154.



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Measures by APEC Economies and fora to accelerate progress towards APEC's trade facilitation goals of reducing business transactions costs by 5% by 2006 are the key feature of the 2003 APEC Committee on Trade and Investment Annual Report to Ministers.

The 5% reduction in business transaction costs is expected to stimulate an additional US$280 billion in annual trade.

The annual report outlines the Committee on Trade and Investment's (CTI) achievements for 2003 in the area of trade and investment liberalization and facilitation, and strategies for the future. The report will be presented to Foreign Affairs and Trade Ministers from APEC's 21 Member Economies on Saturday October 18, 2003 in Bangkok Thailand.

CTI Chair, Ms. Ng Kim Neo, said the CTI focus for the last twelve months has been implementing the directions provided by APEC Economic Leaders in Los Cabos, Mexico last October, including the ongoing implementation of the Trade Facilitation Action Plan.

"All APEC Member Economies have selected the actions and measures that they will use to facilitate trade in the region and reduce costs to business," said Ms. Ng.

"Some economies have provided detailed information on their intended reforms, including prospective cost reductions to business.

"For example, Singapore demonstrated a 75% cost saving to business from the development of TradeNet, a one-stop system for processing permit applications for exports from and imports into Singapore."

"CTI fora are also actively pursuing trade facilitation strategies. For example, the Business Mobility Group is implementing measures to streamline and accelerate the processing of visas.

"The Sub-Committee on Customs Procedures has developed strategies to protect cargo and ships on international voyages, international aviation and people in transit through the Container Security Initiative."

Ms. Ng said another central issue for the CTI this year has been APEC's efforts to accelerate implementation of the APEC Strategic Plan for WTO-related Capacity Building.

"The plan aims to provide APEC members with access to capacity building support and know-how for all members to actively participate in the WTO process and benefit from the multilateral trading system," said Ms. Ng.

"Key elements of the plan were delivered this year which have already helped to develop APEC members' understanding and confidence, including presentation of a Best Practices in Domestic WTO Consultations paper and exchanges of information on the key area of services.

"Following the breakdown in talks at the recent WTO Ministerial Meeting in Cancun, our work in this area has become more important as we seek to support the successful conclusion of the Doha Development Agenda which will help all APEC economies to grow."

Ms. Ng. also highlighted the CTI's work to implement the APEC Leaders' Statement on Transparency Standards.

"CTI is committed to implementing Transparency Standards by January 2005, which will help our economies to have certainly in each other's markets and develop our business communities? confidence by providing clear and consistent rules for trading and investing in the Asia-Pacific.

"CTI discussed and agreed to a work plan entitled Transparency by 2005: Implementing Leaders' Transparency Standards and developed sector-specific transparency standards to guide our work in this area," said Ms. Ng.



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The APEC Counter Terrorism Action Plan Combined Report from APEC Fora has been endorsed by APEC Senior Officials at their meeting in Bangkok on October 14-15.

Prepared by the APEC Secretariat, the report highlights the progress APEC is making to facilitate trade alongside increased measures to secure the regional economy from attack by terrorists.

The measures that have been taken as part of this action plan are expected to add to business confidence and ensure a greater level of safety in the region.

The report covers:

The Secure Trade in the APEC Region (STAR) initiative

Halting terrorist financing

Promoting cybersecurity

The energy security initiative and protecting the health of communities

The Action Plan also summarises the capacity building needs of individual APEC economies.



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Ongoing cooperation with International Financial Institutions (IFIs) will help APEC to deliver a more effective program of economic and technical cooperation (ECOTECH), highlighted in the 2003 APEC Senior Officials' Report on ECOTECH.

The annual Senior Officials' Report on ECOTECH includes an assessment of ECOTECH projects conducted by APEC fora and outlines progress in the implementation of key ECOTECH initiatives in areas such as human capacity building, small and medium-sized enterprises, sustainable development and strengthening markets.

The report will be presented to Foreign Affairs and Trade Ministers from APEC's 21 Member Economies on Saturday 18, 2003 in Bangkok, Thailand.

SOM Committee on Economic and Technical Cooperation (ESC)Chair, Ambassador Juan Carlos Capuñay of Peru, said the first APEC-IFI roundtable discussion conducted in Phuket, Thailand in August 2003, has served as an effective springboard for further cooperation and development of joint ECOTECH activities.

"Our meeting with IFIs earlier this year has already resulted in further cooperation in a number of areas. With the World Bank we will be working on the promotion of economic and technical cooperation in the areas of the knowledge-based economy and distance learning," said Ambassador Capuñay.

"Collaborative efforts in research on issues of regional economic interest are to be jointly undertaken between the APEC Economic Committee and the Asian Development Bank.

"Cooperation with IFIs will help APEC to reach out to a larger number of people in the region and leverage its limited resources to promote sustainable growth and equitable development in all APEC Member Economies.

"Our work with IFIs is based on a short-list of APEC-wide ECOTECH priorities agreed earlier this year which act as a strategic roadmap for APEC sectoral working group activities. These priorities include:

Integration into the Global Economy

Counter-terrorism Capacity Building

Promoting the Development of Knowledge-Based Economies

Addressing the Social Dimensions of Globalisation"

Ambassador Capuñay also indicated that a second Round Table with IFIs would be conducted next year in Chile to build on the successful cooperation developed this year.

"Next year we will involve the private sector in our discussions with IFIs at the second Senior Officials' meeting in Pucon, Chile," said Ambassador Capuñay.

"We see this business sector involvement as being essential to building effective programs which will help business, particularly SMEs and microenterprises, to take advantage of the global economy and the benefits it presents.

"SMEs and microenterprises are the lifeblood of APEC and the ESC will focus more attention on providing effective economic and technical cooperation programs to this important group throughout 2004".

Electronic copies of the Senior Officials' Report on ECOTECH will be available on the APEC Secretariat website from October 18, 2003.



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The program for the next round of voluntary reviews of the steps taken by APEC Member Economies to reach the Bogor Goals of free trade and investment in the APEC Region has been approved by APEC Senior Officials.

These steps are laid out in the Individual Action Plans (IAPs) of APEC Member Economies which are intended to document each economy's progress towards the targets set in the Bogor Declaration of 1994.

After volunteering to undertake the peer review, Chile, China, Peru and the United States will carry out the following program:

 Deadline Requirement November 2003   

APEC Member Economies, fora and the APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC) will provide factual comments and questions regarding the 2003 IAPs of Chile, China, Peru and United States.

 November 2003The Review Team will compile a questionnaire and submit to the economy under review. December 2003December 2003 The economy under review will submit questionnaire responses. March 2004The Review Team will visit the economy under review to hold discussions.  April 2004The Review Team will send the first draft Study Report to the economy under review for comments. April 2004The economy under review will return the first draft with comments.  May 2004The Review Team will send the Study Report to all APEC Member Economies and ABAC. Post May 2004Peer Review Sessions will take place at scheduled Second Senior Officials Meetings during the 2004 APEC Year hosted by Chile. 

Post May 2004 Peer Review Sessions will take place at scheduled Second Senior Officials Meetings during the 2004 APEC Year hosted by Chile.

The Bogor Declaration established the objectives of free trade and investment in the Asia-Pacific region by 2010 for industrialized economies and by 2020 for developing economies.

The framework to reach these goals was then established in the 1995 Osaka Action Agenda (OAA).

The first part of the OAA outlines fourteen specific policy areas which are expected to be achieved through a combination of individual and collective actions by Member Economies.

IAPs contain a chapter for each of these specified policy areas and report on the steps each APEC Member Economy is taking to fulfill these objectives.

The IAP Peer Review for each economy is based on:

Information compiled in that economy's most recent IAP

Responses to questions submitted by APEC Member Economies to the economy under review (peer questions)

Responses to questions posed by the Review Team during their visit to the economy under review.

This information is supplemented by information gathered from the economy's earlier IAPs and from reports issued by the WTO, as well as studies published by academics on the economy under review.

Three APEC Member Economies had their Individual Action Plans reviewed during the August meeting of APEC Senior Officials. These were Hong Kong China, Korea and New Zealand.

At the first Meeting of APEC Senior Officials in Khon Kaen in February in 2003, the Individual Action Plans of three other economies, Australia, Canada and Thailand, were also reviewed.



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The '2003 APEC Economic Outlook' Report forecasts that a rebound in the United States' economy "should provide enough sparks to boost economic growth in the APEC region."

However, despite projections of expected economic growth of 2.5 percent in 2003 and 3.5 percent in 2004, the report notes that a number of factors remain that will restrain brisk recovery.

This year's Economic Outlook Report, which is the ninth in the series produced by the APEC Economic Committee (APEC EC) also features information on the economic impact of SARS on the APEC region.

The report will now be presented to APEC Ministers on October 18 in Bangkok.

On its assessment of the economic outlook of the regional and global economy, the report forecasts that "a stronger recovery will finally get underway before the end of 2003 and then shift into a higher speed with sustainable strength next year."

With the SARS outbreak being brought under control and as the military situation in Iraq stabilizes, the report forecasts that the global economy will regain its strength gradually.

"The rapid end of the war in Iraq has already significantly improved the economic prospects of the United States, the Middle East and the rest of the world and has discouraged OPEC from pushing up oil prices.

"It is worth noting that the 25.0 percent post-Iraq decline in global oil prices by itself is a major boost to consumer discretionary income and business profits. The favorable outcome of the Iraq war has also reduced the geopolitical uncertainties that have been depressing consumer and business confidence for the past two years."

The report also notes that disinflation is likely to continue in the near future.

"Inflation is generally low or decreasing in core terms. Although US inflation has tended to pick up a little, reflecting rising energy prices and stronger import prices resulting from a weaker dollar, it will remain moderate.

"As higher energy prices unwind, inflation should slow, consistent with the negative output gap prevailing over the entire projection period."

While the 2003 Economic Outlook Report forecasts a US-led rebound over this year and the next, momentum will depend on how far major economies alleviate a series of potential problems.

These include a major cyclical risk that private consumption could wane before investment recovers with the report stating that "As consumers in many economies are saddled with heavy debts, business spending in this cycle is not expected to grow as briskly as in the previous business cycles."

The report also warns that already-swollen fiscal deficits in major economies will result in "little room for maneuver left to increase discretionary public expenditure to stimulate domestic economies."

Diverging external imbalances and the exchange-rate adjustment process for major economies is another concern noted in the APEC EC Report.

In particular the report notes "the large current account deficit in the United States continues to rise and is set to widen to 5.5 percent of GDP by 2004. In contrast, Japan's current account surplus is expected to widen to 3.9 percent of GDP in 2004 from 2.1 percent in 2001."

Finally, the report notes that geopolitical tension remains a latent source of major risk to future economic recovery.

"Although the military conflict in Iraq has largely abated, the international community may face new regional uncertainties from the Arab-Israeli conflict and the North Korean nuclear crisis.

"In particular, the deterioration of the nuclear issue and geopolitical instability in the Northeast Asia might have a negative effect on the international financial flows and external trade of the economies in the region."

The SARS epidemic is cited by the report as having "had a serious, but not overwhelming, economic impact on the APEC region.

"The economic cost has been estimated to be in the range 0.5 percent to 1.0 percent of annual GDP growth for many of the economies of the APEC region."

The report breaks down the economic consequences of SARS into the "direct impacts" that are yet to be well documented and "indirect impacts" on areas such as tourism and hospitality.

"The direct impacts include lost output and productive time of the stricken, as well as the health care and crisis management costs.

"The indirect effects include those that resulted from public behavioral changes resulting from the outbreak and the public's perception of it."

The "2003 APEC Economic Outlook" report will be posted on the APEC Secretariat Website after it has been officially presented to APEC Ministers on October 18. 



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Planning for growth in the Knowledge Based Economy is the focus of the "Drivers of the New Economy: Innovation and Organizational Practices" report compiled by the APEC Economic Committee (EC) that will now be presented to APEC Ministers.

The fourth in a series of reports on regional economic developments, this volume is made up of three separate contributions that draw on case examples.

The first, "Economic Contributions of Research and Development in Singapore" attempts to quantify the contributions of R&D to Singapore's economy.

The second, "Mapping Singapore's Knowledge-Based Economy" gives an assessment of the strengths of Singapore's KBE and outlines opportunities for future growth.

The third paper, "Innovative Business Strategies and Firm Performance in the New Economy" uses Canadian data to quantify the role of innovative business strategies in supporting productivity improvements.

Chair of the APEC EC, Dr. Choong Yong Ahn, said the observations outlined in the report reflect the broad scope of the growing knowledge challenge to the region.

"The knowledge based economy is changing not only the way business is conducted and goods are produced, but is transforming entire economies," Dr. Ahn said.

"The integration of information and communications technology with other fields of science and technology is increasing the rate at which people and businesses interact and the volume of information they can be shared.

"From the research compiled in this report and similar studies, economic growth appears to be most sustainable for those economies which are closest to being identified as knowledge based economies.

"From research it appears that the strength of a knowledge based economy can be measured in terms of the four interactive capabilities of - knowledge creation, acquisition, dissemination and application.

"In this report the APEC EC continues to support research by member economies to further understand the dynamics of knowledge-based economies and to develop public policy to foster this form of growth."

Knowledge: The New Factor of Production Chapters:

Economic Contributions of Research and Development in Singapore
The aim of this study is to quantify the different ways in which Research & Development (R&D) has contributed to the Singapore economy. This quantitative framework can then be used as a reference to help refine Singapore's technology policy. Singapore's experience in building its national innovation system can serve as a useful case study for other APEC economies.

Mapping Singapore's Knowledge-Based Economy
This case study takes stock of Singapore's progress in building up its KBE and analyses how these developments have contributed to its economic competitiveness. The findings of the study will enable Singapore to identify gaps in strategically important areas, and thereby take steps to enhance its economic position in the years ahead. It is also hoped that the results could prove useful to other APEC economies in developing their own KBE strategies.

Innovative Business Strategies and Firm Performance in the New Economy 
The term innovative business strategy is relatively broad and includes strategic, structural and work practices of organizations. This paper defines innovative business strategies to include the three streams of the restructuring of production processes, human resource management and product/service quality-related practices.

The "Drivers of the New Economy: Innovation and Organizational Practices" report will be posted on the APEC Secretariat Website after it has been officially presented to APEC Ministers on October 18.



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The schedule of major meetings for the APEC 2004 year hosted by Chile has been released after being presented to the meeting of Ministers Responsible for Trade in Khon Kaen, Thailand, last week.

Beginning with an informal Senior Officials Meeting in Viña del Mar in December this year, Ministerial and Officials' meetings will be held in the cities of Pucon and Valparaiso in 2004 before the Leaders' meeting in Santiago at the end of next year.

Executive Director of the APEC Secretariat, Ambassador Piamsak Milintachinda, who is from the current APEC host economy of Thailand, said APEC 2004 will provide an opportunity to showcase the people and economy of Chile to the world as delegates meet to advance APEC's free trade and investment goals.

"APEC 2003 is proving very beneficial for Thailand on many levels," said Ambassador Milintachinda.

"The cultural interaction that takes place when delegates from 21 economies meet is profound."

"Over the course of an APEC year many delegates will make several visits to a variety of locations in the host economy."

"Delegates take with them knowledge of the host economy and they enrich the lives of the people they meet during their stay."

"There is also the broader exposure of the host economy to the rest of the world. When the Leaders and Ministers from APEC economies come together for multilateral discussions and other APEC business, the world's media follows them."

"This turns the spotlight firmly on the host economy. The culture and economy of the host economy is showcased for region and the world."

"I hope the rewards for Chile hosting APEC in 2004 are as worthwhile as Thailand is experiencing in the current APEC year."

The 2003 APEC Year hosted by Thailand has several events ahead with more ministerial and officials meetings due before the climax of the APEC year when the APEC Leaders meet in Bangkok on 21-22 October.

As the representative from Thailand, Ambassador Milintachinda will serve as the Executive Director for the remainder of the calendar year. Following this, Ambassador Mario Artaza, who is from Chile, will move from his current position of Deputy Executive Director to become the 12th Executive Director of the APEC Secretariat.

Key APEC Event Dates, June 2003 - November 2004
(Current June 10, 2003)

Meeting Date, Venue  APEC Health Ministers' Meeting 28 June 2003, 
Bangkok, Thailand SME Ministers' Meeting 7-8 August 2003, 
Chiang Mai, Thailand Senior Officials Meeting (SOM) III 14-23 August 2003, 
Phuket, Thailand Finance Ministers' Meeting  4-5 September 2003, 
Phuket, Thailand Final SOM, Joint Ministerial Meeting, ABAC, CEO Summit & APEC Leaders' Meeting.  14-21 October 2003, 
Bangkok, Thailand Informal SOM

11-12 December 2003, Viña del Mar, Chile

SOM I 23 Feb. - 3 March 2004,
Santiago, ChileSOM II & Ministers' Responsible for Trade 24 May - 5 June 2004, 
Pucon, ChileFinance Ministers' Meeting2 - 3 September 2004,
Santiago, ChileSOM III25 September - 4 October 2004,
Santiago, ChileSmall and Medium Enterprises (SME) Ministerial Meeting 6 - 7 October 2004, 
Santiago, ChileFinal SOM, Joint Ministerial Meeting, ABAC, CEO Summit & APEC Leaders' Meeting.



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The APEC Tourism Working Group (TWG) has issued a "Statement on the Impact of SARS on Tourism in the APEC Region" at the conclusion of the 22nd TWG meeting today in, Pattaya, Thailand.

The Statement compliments the "underlying resilience of travel and tourism in the Asia-Pacific region despite recent economic, health and other setbacks," but notes that restoring traveler confidence will depend on clear and accurate public information.

"Although the incidence of SARS may be diminishing, there is evidence that impacts will be felt for some time, as bookings may remain low for some months to come."

"TWG officials are aware that the media need to be kept informed of the measures being taken to enhance traveler security in the APEC region. The TWG recognizes the important role that media and government advisory messages can play in gaining the confidence of travelers."

The TWG officials also made note that economic statistics, including the predicted decline in tourism employment in selected economies of between 12 and 41 per cent, do not always clearly reflect the social cost of economic downturns as has been triggered by SARS.

"TWG officials are keenly aware that the negative impacts on GDP and other economic indicators do not capture the social impacts from job losses and company failures in the APEC region."

The TWG meeting was the first major APEC event to take place since the APEC Ministers Responsible for Trade issued the SARS Action Plan in Khon Kaen, Thailand, last week.

In response to the SARS Action plan, the TWG will now undertake a research and analysis project on how governments and tourism operators can best manage risk and respond to crises such as the Bali terrorist bombing and SARS.

To be completed by the end of September 2003, the APEC project is co-funded by AusAID, Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) and World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC), and is led by the APEC International Centre for Sustainable Tourism (AICST).

The 22nd Tourism Working Group (TWG) met on June 10-11 in Pattaya, after being postponed from in April due to the SARS outbreak.

The TWG outcomes will be reported to the APEC Health Ministers' Meeting in Bangkok, Thailand on 28 June 2003.

The 23rd TWG will be held in Bali in October 2003.

The full statement is available at: http://www.apecsec.org.sg/twg/TWG_StmtSARSImpactTourism.html



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The APEC Transportation Working Group has endorsed a series of projects intended to work towards the goals of an increasingly safe, secure, efficient, integrated and environmentally sustainable transportation system in the APEC region.

Presented to senior transportation officials from APEC economies meeting in Wellington, New Zealand, on June 12-13, the projects will contribute to activities such as port development planning, mutual recognition of qualifications and aviation negotiation training.

The APEC Transportation Working Group will now recommend the following projects to the APEC Budget Management Committee:

A project to trial a competency-based model of mutual recognition of Qualifications for Logistics Managers.

Two workshops to increase efficiency, safety, security and environmental protection in multi-modal transport through the use of Global Navigation Satellite Systems.

A training workshop in International Air Services Negotiations.

Case studies on using new technologies in intermodal transport in Asia Pacific Trade.

Forecasting cargo throughput to assist shipping and port authorities make master plans and co-ordinate investment in shipping and port infrastructure in the APEC region.

The projects were approved as they contribute to achieving the requirements of the "Six Priorities" laid out by APEC Transport Ministers when they met in Lima, Peru, in 2002. These priorities guide the group in achieving their regional transportation industry goals:

The elimination of barriers to a more competitive transportation operating environment across all modes of transport compliant with international safety and security standards.

The promotion of economic and technical cooperation - particularly for developing economies striving to achieve the Bogor Goals of free and open regional trade and investment.

The promotion of new technologies to enhance safety, security, environmental protection and energy efficiency.

The promotion of timely rational investment in the region's transport infrastructure through the application of appropriate technology, trade and transport facilitation techniques.

Cooperation to address institutional constraints affecting the efficient provision of transportation services in the region, including cross-border transport facilitation.

Enhancing human capacity in productivity, skills and efficiency of labour and management in the transport sector.

The Group also discussed preparations for its next meeting in Busan, Korea in September 2003, and a Ministerial-level meeting to be held in Indonesia in July 2004.

Additional details of the APEC Transportation Working Group endorsed projects will be posted on the APEC Secretariat Website in the coming weeks: www.apecsec.org.sg

Further information about the APEC Transportation Working Group is available at: http://www.apecsec.org.sg/workgroup/transportation.html



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In light of the recent terrorist attack on Bali and the SARS epidemic, the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum is taking a lead role in delivering a new Risk Management Strategy for use in tourist destinations and other areas affected by natural or man-made catastrophes.

Leading researchers from the APEC International Centre for Sustainable Tourism (AICST) are developing this Risk Management Strategy with assistance from APEC government agencies and NGOs, and key private sector interests in insurance, law, media and management.

Australian Professor Jeff Wilks from The University of Queensland leads the team of research experts on behalf of the Cooperative Research Centre for Sustainable Tourism, who are the appointed project managers. Further collaboration will be forthcoming from James Cook University (AUST), Hong Kong Polytechnic University (HK), and the University of Hawaii (USA).

The strategy will be based on worldwide experience in risk management and crisis recovery, particularly the lessons learnt from 11 September 2001, the more recent terrorist attacks on Bali, SARS and natural disasters that impact on the 21 APEC member economies.

The strategy will be delivered by AICST to all tiers of government in the 21 countries of APEC by September ?03. Each government will be able to incorporate the strategy into its risk management and crisis recovery planning.

APEC member economies will also be assisted by the World Tourism Organisation (WTO) and the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) to disseminate the strategy to the region?s tourism industry groups and operators. The implementation of guidelines and procedures from the Risk Management Strategy will better prepare the Asia Pacific tourism industry to deal with future crises.

"Tourism traditionally has little expertise in the area of risk management. The unique aspect of this international project is that it draws on the successful partnerships in other areas of government and industry to assist tourism in dealing effectively with unexpected events", says Professor Wilks.

Funding partners for this important APEC program include Dept of Industry, Tourism & Resources & AusAID (Australia), the World Tourism Organization (WTO), the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA), and the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the Republic of Korea.

AICST is the tourism research centre representing 21 APEC economies. It is established by APEC to undertake collaborative research on issues that impact on the future of tourism in the Asia Pacific region.

Further details about the APEC International Centre for Sustainable Tourism and the APEC Tourism Working Group are available at: http://www.apecsec.org.sg/workgroup/tourism_upd.html



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APEC Health Ministers will meet on June 28 in Bangkok, Thailand, to set common actions for restoring business and consumer confidence in the Asia-Pacific region and to make preparations for potential similar epidemics in the future.

APEC Secretariat Executive Director, Ambassador Piamsak Milintachinda, said the APEC Health Ministers meeting will complement the recent World Health Organization (WHO) conference in Kuala Lumpur.

"Last week the WHO looked at the scientific and health issues relating to SARS," said Ambassador Milintachinda.

"This week APEC will look at the economic and governance implications of SARS. The next chapter in the fight against SARS is the economic recovery and future defense phase."

Ambassador Milintachinda said APEC Health Ministers will identify measures for member economies and the APEC Secretariat to implement as part of a regional strategy to move beyond the SARS epidemic.

"In its briefings the WHO has spoken of SARS as the first severe and readily transmissible new disease to strike a globalized society.

"To defeat SARS and any similar epidemic that may come in the future, the WHO has called for unprecedented solidarity in the international community to overcome the threat.

"SARS is not a problem for one economy, it is the collective responsibility of APEC economies to seek solutions and protect our future.

"APEC has the task of establishing policy initiatives and guiding principles for economies to implement and prevent the future cross-border spread of epidemic diseases."

Ambassador Milintachinda said the other major focus of the APEC Health Ministers will be on the restoration of business and traveler confidence.

"With the crisis being contained in most effected areas, the time is right to focus on the post-SARS economic recovery," Ambassador Milintachinda said.

"Now is the time to assure the business community and tourists that it is safe to return to international travel. Not only has SARS been contained, but there are now tight screening measures to prevent new outbreaks from being spread.

"The meeting will receive submissions from the APEC Business Advisory Council, the APEC Tourism Working Group, the APEC Transportation Working Group, the APEC Industrial Science and Technology Working Group and other contributors."

The APEC Action Plan on SARS is already being implemented and includes a number of proactive measures ranging from the sharing of information to developing a common set of guiding principles to assure the safety of all travelers.

Additional APEC information on SARS.



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The APEC Health Ministers' Meeting on SARS at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Bangkok, Thailand, on June 28 will draw the attendance of ministers from many APEC member economies.

APEC Secretariat Executive Director, Ambassador Piamsak Milintachinda, said although convened at short notice, the attendance of so many ministers and senior officials confirms the importance APEC member economies attach to the issue of SARS and regaining normalcy post-SARS.

"It has been confirmed that the Deputy Prime Minister and Health Minister of China, Madame Wu Yi, will be traveling to the meeting," said Ambassador Milintachinda.

"It will be interesting to hear Madame Wu Yi's views of the SARS epidemic particularly with Beijing having just been removed from the WHO travel warning list.

"There will also be valuable input from other ministers of economies that have implemented a range of measures to contain the virus ranging from Japan, Korea, New Zealand, Chinese Taipei and the ASEAN region.

"This meeting will also give APEC Health Ministers the opportunity to identify measures to rebuild traveler confidence and implement measures to overcome future disease threats."

The Prime Minister of Thailand, Dr. Thaksin Shinawatra, will officially open the APEC Health Minister's meeting on Saturday.

Senior Officials from APEC member economies will meet on June 27 prior to the Ministers' meeting.

Program for the APEC Health Ministers' Meeting, Saturday, 28 June 2003, 09:30-15:00

Main Agenda Items:

Opening Address by the Prime Minister of Thailand, 9:40-10:00 (Media invited).

APEC Action Plan on SARS and Implementation of practical measures in APEC member economies to combat the SARS epidemic and build confidence

APEC SARS Communications Strategy

APEC Infectious Disease Strategy and public-private collaboration in research and capacity building.

The Official Press Conference will be hosted by the Minister of Public Health and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Thailand from 14:30 to 1500.

Media wishing to attend the opening ceremony or the final Press Conference must register with the Department of Information at the Thai Minister for Foreign Affairs. Contact Mr. Puttaporn Ewtoksan at puttaporne@mfa.go.th or Tel: 66 (0)2 643 5105



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A special meeting of APEC Senior Officials in Bangkok, Thailand, has endorsed for submission to APEC Health Ministers short and long term common actions to confront the current SARS epidemic.

The plans are intended to facilitate measures to protect against possible outbreaks of similar epidemics in the future while at the same time ensuring the flow of trade and investment.

Held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the meeting endorsed proposals to health ministers for a common set of guiding principles for health screening procedures, and the exchange of accurate and timely information relevant to epidemics.

The plans include a communications strategy that addresses the consequences of SARS on business and tourist travel.

The meeting, co-chaired by Mr. Tej Bunnag, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Dr. Pakdee Pothisiri, Deputy Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Public of Health of Thailand, was held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Mr. Tej said it was agreed that all APEC member economies should cooperate more closely on prevention and treatment of SARS and other potential emerging diseases.

"Since the ASEAN-China leaders' meeting on SARS in Bangkok in April this year, SARS was also discussed at both the APEC Senior Officials' Meeting and APEC Ministers Responsible for Trade in Khon Kaen, Thailand, in May.

"Discussion of SARS at high levels indicates a strong determination to take all necessary action, individually, collectively and in cooperation with relevant international organizations to minimise the social and economic impact of SARS.

"APEC has actively responded to the SARS epidemic by establishing an APEC Secretariat webpage on SARS. This contains economies' information and links to member economies? focal points on SARS.

"ASEAN has also been proactive in sharing SARS information through the establishment of the ASEAN SARS Containment Information Network which complements the APEC SARS webpage."

The APEC Action Plan on SARS lays out necessary short-term measures to confront the spread of the epidemic:

Exchange of information via the APEC Secretariat website which coordinates information on SARS and is linked with the APEC Infections Network (EiNet)

Enhance strategies to handle other infectious diseases

Common monitory guidelines for air passengers based on the ASEAN Ministers +3 meeting in Malaysia in April this year

Promote similar measures for people traveling via land and sea

The long-term measures will focus on studying the effects of SARS on tourism, transportation and trade. Strategic plans to restore public and business confidence have also been proposed.

The meeting was attended by representatives of APEC economies, the World Health Organization and the APEC Business Advisory Council.



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Strengthening the legal and policing capacity of APEC economies will be the focus of an APEC conference in Bangkok, Thailand, from 21-25 July.

The APEC Cybercrime Legislation and Enforcement Capacity Building Project is intended to assist economies in the region to enhance their legislative frameworks to combat cybercrime and to promote the development of law enforcement investigative capacity to effectively deal with cybercrime.

Executive Director of the APEC Secretariat, Ambassador Piamsak Milintachinda, said cybercrime has clear economic and social ramifications for people in the APEC region.

"The activities of cyber criminals have direct and harmful consequences for the regional economy," Ambassador Milintachinda said.

"Cybercrime covers a wide area and includes any misuse of computer systems for illegal actions including theft, fraud or terrorist activities

"As a directive in the APEC Leaders' Statement of 2002, this project will contribute to the development of comprehensive legal frameworks on cybercrime and cybersecurity for implementation by APEC economies."

United States Deputy Assistant Attorney General, Mr. John Malcolm, welcomed APEC's commitment to enhancing cybersecurity.

"Cybercrime is not confined by borders and cyber criminals can exploit differences in laws that exist between different economies," Mr. Malcolm said.

"International law enforcement cooperation is vital to protect people and businesses from the new dangers that are apparent in the modern world.

"It is essential for the economic development and security of the region for all economies to work together to implement measures to investigate, capture and prosecute cyber criminals."

The areas to be covered at the Bangkok conference include:

Strengthening cybercrime legal frameworks in member economies by promoting laws that criminalize attacks on computers and networks and those that allow authorities to gather electronic evidence;

Promoting the development of dedicated cybercrime law enforcement units;

Enhancing the ability of cybercrime units to cooperate with each other internationally;

Promoting better cooperation between cybercrime investigators and industry.

Funded by APEC and the United States, the conference is being organized by the Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section of the United States Department of Justice and hosted by Thailand's National Electronics and Computer Technology Center, National Science and Technology Agency.

The conference will be held at the Siam City Hotel in Bangkok, Thailand, and will conclude with a press conference to be scheduled for Friday, July 25.



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The business community, including small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) in APEC member economies, will have an opportunity to work on accessing government procurement markets at two workshops and a symposium in Thailand on August 13-14.

The event will provide an opportunity for business to provide input into strategies for the e-procurement enablement of governments and businesses in APEC economies.

Hosted by the APEC Government Procurement Experts' Group (GPEG), the meetings are intended to identify projects that will open opportunities for businesses of all sizes to access government procurement markets.

APEC Secretariat Executive Director, Ambassador Piamsak Milintachinda, said that as SMEs are some of the greatest employers in the Asia-Pacific, they must have equitable access to government contracts.

"All businesses, large and small, should have equal opportunity to tender for government work," Ambassador Milintachinda said.

"The deciding factor between which firm gets the job should not be the size of the company, but how capable that company is at carrying out the task.

"What is important is to ensure that there is no discrimination against smaller businesses and that they are able to compete for government contracts based on merit.

"Today's interconnected world and open access to the Internet provides governments and the business community, including SMEs, with the opportunity to increase their access to markets, and to improve business processes.

"E-procurement is growing as a means of doing business with governments and this should be a boost for SMEs who can use the Internet in the same way as larger businesses.

"This event will provide businesses with an opportunity to help shape strategies and policy to make it easier to access government procurement markets."

The meeting will be attended by representatives of private sector, non-government organizations and the government sector

The two workshops and the symposium will address specific issues including:

Developing strategies to overcome challenges faced by SMEs in accessing Government procurement markets in the Asia-Pacific region.

Doing business with Government and overcoming the practical challenges of accessing Government markets.

Assisting Developing Economies' business community, particularly SMEs, to establish effective business practices through e-Procurement.

The GPEG Symposium will take place following the scheduled meeting of APEC Ministers Responsible for Small to Medium Enterprises in Chiang Mai, Thailand, on August 7-8.

Additional information on the GPEG workshops and symposiums to be held in Bangkok can be found at: http://www.apecsec.org.sg/committee/gov_procure.html



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APEC e-Security Task Group presented a conference from 21 - 25 July designed to strengthen the ability of economies around the region to combat cybercrime.

Attended by over 120 delegates from 17 economies, the conference was organized by the Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section of the United States Department of Justice and hosted by Thailand?s National Electronics and Computer Technology Center, National Science and Technology Agency. The project was jointly funded by the United States and APEC in response to the APEC Leaders commitment last October to endeavor to enact comprehensive legal frameworks to combat cybercrime and to develop law enforcement units capable of investigating cybercrime.

John Malcolm, Deputy Assistant Attorney General, United States Department of Justice welcomed APEC?s commitment to enhancing cybersecurity. "Cybercrime is not confined by borders, and cyber criminals can exploit differences in laws that exist between different economies," Mr. Malcolm said.

"International law enforcement cooperation is vital to protect people and businesses from the new dangers that are apparent in the modern interconnected world.

"It is essential for the economic development and security of the region for all economies to work together to implement measures to investigate, capture and prosecute cyber criminals."

The conference had three primary objectives:

Assisting economies to develop legal frameworks necessary for to combat computer crime;

Promoting the development of law enforcement investigative units with the training and equipment needed to investigate and deter computer crime;

Enhance understanding and cooperation between industry and law enforcement in order to better address the threat of computer crime.

The conference achieved these goals by valuable presentations from a number of experts from across the region and by the exchange of views and experience by delegates. The experts agreed that:

All economies need to have a comprehensive legal framework to combat cybercrime that includes 
a. substantive laws that criminalize conduct such as unauthorized access to a computer system and causing damage to computer systems; 
b. procedural laws that allow law enforcement authorities to collect electronic evidence; and 
c. laws and policies that allow economies to cooperate with each other in investigating and prosecuting cybercrime.

International instruments, in particular the Council of Europe Cybercrime Convention (2001), provide valuable models for improving domestic laws.

Cooperation between jurisdictions is critical to solving cybercrime cases. Authorities need to seek ways to improve the speed of international cooperation in cybercrime investigations, such as by joining the 24/7 network and by improving the speed of their assistance to foreign investigators.

An important factor in enforcing cybercrime laws is the development of law enforcement investigative units devoted to cybercrime investigations.

Investigators that comprise computer crime units need to have adequate training and equipment.


"The conference has provided an important step forward in addressing the problem of cybercrime in the region," said Richard W. Downing, the conference Chair and senior counsel at the Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section, United States Department of Justice.

"Cooperation between jurisdictions is critical to deterring cybercrime, and conferences such as this are critical to developing the basis for that cooperation."



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Leading business executives from the Asia-Pacific region are meeting on the Indonesian island of Bali this week to finalize the recommendations that will be put to the Leaders of APEC's 21 member economies when they meet in October.

Other items on the agenda of this third annual meeting of the APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC) for 2003 are issues ranging from an assessment of APEC's progress towards its free trade goals to current issues affecting regional business.

ABAC Chair, Dr. Viphandh Roengpithya, said this meeting is one of the final chances for ABAC members to develop recommendations to be presented to APEC Leaders this year.

"Right now the regional economy needs continued strong partnership between the government and business sectors," said Dr. Viphandh.

At the Bali Meeting ABAC members will have the opportunity to contribute a great deal to this partnership as we prepare for the annual dialogue with APEC Leaders in October.

The annual ABAC Dialogue with APEC Leaders is one of the great opportunities for business leaders to sit down with the most powerful leaders in the global economy and discuss issues of joint concern.

For 2003 ABAC has adopted the theme of "Harmony in Diversity: Achieving Balanced and Equitable Growth.

From the work it has undertaken this year, the ABAC Dialogue with APEC Leaders will most likely cover areas that include:

Addressing security while facilitating trade and investment

Capacity building as the key to achieving balanced and equitable growth

Remaining committed to free and open trade and achieving the Bogor Goals

Addressing corporate governance issues

Ongoing business input into the APEC process

Another issue to be discussed at the ABAC meeting will be an evaluation of APEC's progress towards its free trade goals.

Dr. Viphandh said it is healthy for all participates in the APEC process to be involved with the ongoing analysis of progress being made towards APEC's key objectives.

"APEC has set the Bogor Goals of free trade and investment for developed economies by 2010 and for developing economies by 2020," said Dr. Viphandh.

These goals are attainable and through ongoing assessment and analysis we can be sure we will meet our targets.

The APEC Business Advisory Council will meet until August 2 and will include input from senior members of the Indonesian Government. President Megawati Soekarno Putri represented by Dorodjatun Kuntjorojakti, Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs will host a gala dinner on Wednesday, July 30, and the prominent Business Society of Indonesia will organize a dinner performance to honour leading APEC business executives on August 1, 2003.

A press conference will be held to discuss outcomes of the meeting on Saturday, August 2 at 11:40, at the Ritz Carlton Bali.



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"Unequivocal support for APEC action to stimulate progress in the WTO's Doha Development Agenda is a top priority for the APEC Business Advisory Council", said Dr Viphandh Roengpithya, Chair of the APEC Business Advisory Council at the conclusion of the Council's third meeting for the year.

With the WTO Ministerial Meeting scheduled for September in Cancun, the Council considered that APEC's collective strength could be leveraged to ensure progress, particularly in sensitive areas that may require a boost to spur on negotiations.

To ensure that all APEC economies benefit from the agreements reached in the Doha Development Agenda, the Council also expressed strong support for the accession of Viet Nam and Russia to the WTO.

Dr. Viphandh said that during periods of economic slowdown and uncertainty it is imperative that APEC economies show leadership in advancing free, open and transparent trading systems on a multilateral basis.

ABAC stressed that APEC was also in a position to achieve progress on liberalization in other areas, such as transportation, and implementation of the APEC Food System that is designed to overcome impediments to trade in food products.

"To better address concerns about the ability of APEC members to meet future economic and financial challenges, ABAC would also like to see greater cooperation in specific areas, including strengthening of financial systems, addressing the impact of the security environment and promoting transparency and good governance," Dr. Viphandh said.

"ABAC is looking to boost private sector and business sector cooperation by establishing an APEC Public-Private Sector Advisory Group for financial sector capacity building."

"This group will help build the regional infrastructure for the business community and governments to work together to ensure there are no gaps in financial systems, capital markets and institutions that could become major issues."

Other priorities identified by the Council included the need for micro enterprises and small and medium sized businesses, as engines of growth in the region's economy, to gain access to financing and new technology.

Serious concerns were also expressed by the Council over proposed new customs regulations in major economies that may undermine the ability of APEC to reach its 2006 trade facilitation targets.

ABAC is made up of three representatives of each of APEC's 21 Member Economies and meets several times each year. At these meetings ABAC assesses developments and key issues facing the regional economy and provides recommendations to APEC Leaders and other participants in the APEC process.

The next ABAC Meeting is scheduled for October 18 in Bangkok prior to the APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting.



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An action plan intended to empower the world's smallest businesses to benefit from the global economy have been endorsed by the APEC Small and Medium Enterprises Working Group today (SMEWG) in Chiang Mai, Thailand.

Prepared by the (SMEWG) Sub-Group on Micro-Enterprises, the "Micro-Enterprise Development Action Plan" provides an outline of work programs to be implemented by APEC Member Economies and Working Groups to address the unique needs of Micro-enterprises.

SMEWG Chair, Mr. Vivat Vinicchakul, said that as micro-enterprises account for around 74% of all registered businesses, and as much as 90% of informal trade in some APEC Economies, development of the Micro-enterprise sector is important for the APEC process.

"Micro-Enterprises are an essential part of our regional economy and cover many sectors of business activity," Mr. Vinicchakul said.

"These include small farmers, trades people and other self employed skilled workers, numerous family owned and staffed businesses and many other operations in both developed and developing economies.

"Women are also predominantly represented in the Micro-enterprise sector and have the most to gain from APEC involvement in the sector."

Mr. Vinicchakul said Globalization has presented Micro-enterprises with new opportunities but at the same time has created new challenges

"Micro-enterprises have the flexibility to market their skills and crafts direct to consumers in a very personal manner that is not possible for larger, highly structured businesses.

"New opportunities are opening for Micro-enterprises to market a greater range of skills and products as inputs to production required by larger businesses.

"Challenges for micro-enterprises include pressures to remain competitive in a trading environment that is progressively more depended on fluctuations in the global economy and changes in global demand trends.

"Micro-enterprises are also being compelled to invest greater resources to conform with a regulatory environment that is governed by increased conformance and compliance rules.

"To overcome the challenges and enjoy the opportunities, Micro-enterprises require the support of the government sector to adapt to and compete in the global economy, to access finance opportunities and incorporate new technology in their operations.

"The Micro-Enterprise Development Action Plan provides guidelines in six areas for APEC Economies and Working Groups to better promote and support Micro-Enterprises in the APEC Region.

"These areas include compiling information for policy adjustment, policy and regulatory frameworks, access to financial services, access to technology, management and marketing skills, and capacity building."

The action plan will be posted on the APEC Secretariat's Website once it has been presented to APEC Small and Medium Enterprises Ministers Meeting in Chiang Mai on August 7-8.

The Sub-Group on Micro-Enterprises works within the APEC Small and Medium Enterprises Working Group and was created at the request of APEC Leaders' at their meeting in Los Cabos, Mexico, in October 2002.



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The Tenth APEC Small and Medium Enterprises Ministers Meeting will take place in Chiang Mai, Thailand, on August 7-8.

This year's SME Minister's Meeting is expected to further implement the APEC Leaders' call for priority to be placed on developing Micro-enterprises in the APEC region.

Executive Director of the APEC Secretariat, Ambassador Piamsak Milintachinda, said the role of Micro-enterprises has a very strong influence on the regional economy and it is positive to see their presence being elevated.

"Around 74% of all formal sector businesses registered in the APEC Region are Micro-enterprises and there are many more that operate in the informal economy particularly developing areas," said Ambassador Milintachinda.

"Micro-enterprises are typically businesses that operate with an informal structure, often based on individual or informal financing and often involve family member in business operations.

"Micro-enterprises also play an important social role as they often enable groups such as women and youth to play a strong and active business role."

Other issues on the agenda to be discussed by APEC SME Ministers are based on the central theme for Small and Medium Enterprises in the 2003 APEC Year. This is year's theme is "Strengthening APEC Entrepreneurial Society" and includes the three priority topics of:

Capacity Building to Address Impediments to SME Exporters in the APEC Region

Entrepreneurship development

Business Creation, Capital Formation and Financial Access for SMEs and Micro-enterprises.

The meeting will also include a session that will involve an interactive dialogue with representatives from the SMEs Business Forum.

Earlier this week on Monday, 4 August the first meeting of the SME Sub-Group on Micro-enterprises was held at which the group endorsed a Micro-Enterprise Development Action Plan. The Action Plan identifies areas in which APEC economies are urged to work closely with Micro-enterprises to build their capacity and allow them to benefit from the global economy.

Ministers will also hold a Joint Session with the APEC Business Advisory Council and the Women Leaders' Network.

A News Conference will be hosted by the Thailand Minister for Industry and SMEs, His Excellency Somsak Thepsuthin, at which SME Ministers from other APEC Member Economies are also invited to attend at 2pm on Friday, 8 August.

The APEC SME Ministers' Meeting will take place at the Imperial Mae Ping Hotel, Chiang Mai, Thailand.



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Issued by Mr. Vivat Vinicchayakul, Chair of the APEC Small and Medium Enterprises Working Group (SMEWG)

I would like to thank all the participants from economy members, observers and special guests for making valuable contributions to the works and discussions of this 17th meeting of the Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) Working Group in Chiang Mai, Thailand.

I feel it is important to highlight the main points of the discussions that have taken place over the past two days.

I would like to commend the cooperation and new links we have developed with the Standards and Conformance Sub-Committee (SCSC) in 2003 to address the concerns of SMEs in meeting the necessary standards and conformance requirements marked an important milestone in our work.

We have agreed that we are going to continue working in coordination with the SCSC and we welcome Chile's suggestion to organize a joint session meeting in October 2004 with the SCSC.

The SME Working Group also thanked Brunei for the concept paper tabled at the meeting and its recommendations. We also welcome the capacity building workshop on reducing compliance costs.

We thank Malaysia for the survey presented on Capital formation for SMEs and take note that 8 economies responded the survey.

Over the past two days we have also had a fruitful exchange of ideas on how to improve our collaboration with the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). We thank Chinese Taipei of its proposal and we agreed to continue developing our links with the OECD Working party on SMEs and Entrepreneurship.

The establishment of the Sub Group on micro-enterprises with the approval of terms of reference, action plan and work plan for 2004 is one of the SME Working Group's most important deliverables of this year.

I would like to thank the Micro-enterprise Chair and members of the sub-group for their hard work in the past days.

We welcomed the reports from ABAC and the Women Leaders' Network and agree to incorporate their recommendations in our work plan for 2004.

The SME Working Group also received an interesting report on the outcomes of the Gender Focal Network Point first meeting that was held in Khon Kaen, Thailand, in May and agreed to continue supporting its activities.

The SME Working Group would also would like to thank the SME Working Group Gender Focal representative for their report on the "Study on the Economic contribution of Women and Men in APEC Economies: The Need for Sex Dissagregated Data." The support of the United States is most appreciated and we thank you for continuing to be the gender focal point.

The SME Working Group received a very comprehensive report from Korea on the e-APEC strategy and we thank Korea for its report.

We also welcome the report made by China and Brunei on the implementation of the Beijing Initiative on APEC human capacity building.

Indonesia reported on the implementation of the Integrated Plan of Action for SME Development (SPAN) and Canada also circulated a document under this agenda item. Economies are reminded that this is an ongoing activity and are encouraged to continue reporting.

We would like to thank Australia for its efforts in organizing the seminars, last February in Genting, Malaysia, and this week in Chiang Mai to address the leader's instructions to develop programs to remove obstacles inhibiting the growth of SMEs, including as regional exporters. We welcome the establishment of the small group and its recommendations.

The SME Working Group also received reports from the leading economies on completed and on-going projects. We commend leading economies for the advances and results reported. We also had the opportunity to discuss the last BMC meeting outcomes and how to improve our submission of project proposal to the APEC Central funds.

I took pleasure in receiving the presentation on OECD's SME Working Party activities regarding the Bologna process. We thank the OECD for inviting all APEC non OECD member economies to attend the next OECD SME ministerial meeting to be held in Istanbul, June 2004.

Finally, I would like to welcome Canada's offer to host the next meeting of the Group in Vancouver on March 8 to 10 next year, and thank Chile on the update of their preparation for the 2004 Ministerial Meeting that will take place in Santiago, Chile on October 3 to 7 in 2004.



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The "e-APEC Strategy for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs)" has been endorsed by APEC SME Ministers at their meeting today in Chiang Mai, Thailand.

Prepared by Korea, the strategy identifies a number of difficulties confronting SMEs attempting to digitize operations and provides a series of solutions to be implemented at a local level by Member Economies.

The Strategy was first presented to the APEC Small and Medium Enterprises Working Group (SMEWG) on Wednesday and has now been formally accepted by the Ministers.

The e-APEC Strategy specifically for SMEs developed by Korea was created in line with the general e-APEC strategy that was endorsed by APEC Leaders in Shanghai in 2001. This original strategy was intended to develop the policy initiatives and specific goals and actions to facilitate greater access to the digital economy in the APEC region.

SMEWG Chair, Mr. Vivat Vinicchakul, said the e-Strategy for SMEs provides a range of forward thinking measures that will be localized and implemented by APEC Member economies.

"All APEC Members have strong SME sectors and these businesses have the opportunity to engage more full in the digital economy," said Mr. Vinicchakul.

"Obstacles to greater SME participation in the digital economy are often issues such as the costs of accessing new technology, developing suitable business models that use the Internet to the advantage of the SME or even just understanding the laws governing e-trade.

"This APEC e-APEC Strategy for SMEs draws on Korean experience but has the flexibility for implementation in all APEC economies where specific local characteristics can be incorporated into the plan.

"The plan calls of governments to play the role of facilitator to build strategic links with larger businesses and to create the right policy environment for the SME digitization."

The e-APEC Strategy for SMEs presents four policy recommendations for APEC economies that are further expanded on the APEC Secretariat Website:

Expanding Basic Services for Network Utilization

The e-APEC Strategy recognized that the costs are high for small businesses attempting to obtain high-speed data and Internet access if individual businesses are negotiating with larger Internet Service Providers. The strategy suggests that governments play a greater role in bringing SMEs together to increase bargaining power to reduce the individual cost of high-speed access.

In Korea the government organized a suppliers’ consortium of Internet service providers to negotiate with large groups of small businesses who wished to gain access high speed Internet access. Under the "Networking Small Businesses Project" the suppliers’ consortium has provided high-speed Internet access to around 120,000 small businesses in Korea at price based on overall consumer demand. This is significantly less than if the businesses were to negotiate individually for access.

Facilitating Development of Business Models for SMEs

The e-APEC strategies proposed by Korea also call for governments to assist in the development of suitable business models for digitizing SMEs.

These business plans should be designed for specific industries and varying sizes of business operations. Korea is developing sets of business models that can be applied to a range of SMEs e-strategies.

Promoting Partnerships between Businesses and Economies

The e-APEC Strategy urges APEC Economies to establish a "pro-digitization environment" to facilitate low cost access to technology resources that can be used by SMEs to interact and trade in the online world.

Korea has already launched a project for building the "ASEAN+3 Network" that enables exporter SMEs to promote their products online. Other projects that have been identified include other aspects of trade promotion and exchanges of industry information.

Building Framework for Regulation and Education

The e-APEC Strategy calls for clear government policies to establish the educational and legal infrastructure to enable SMEs to expand in the online world.

This includes government assistance in the establishment of training programs for SME operators, to develop appropriate legislation to ensure online security and protection for SMEs and to ensure laws governing e-trading are clear and transparent.

The next step in the implementation of the strategy is for each APEC Member Economy to voluntarily compile a country report on the status of its SME digitization and systems under development. These can then be compared and benchmarked by other economies.

In the implementation of the strategy, the APEC SMEWG will provide ongoing assistance to member economies, share the best practices and assist economies to configure the strategy for local implantation.



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The 10th Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) Ministerial Meeting has concluded in Chiang Mai, Thailand, with Ministers calling for Member Economies to strengthen networks between business owners, trade promotion agencies and SME focused financial institutions.

In the Joint Ministerial Statement, "Strengthening an APEC Entrepreneurial Society," Ministers highlighted the courageous and critical role played by SMEs and Micro-enterprises.

"The definition of an entrepreneur goes beyond the conventional meaning of business owner and operator and that risk-taking individuals are the driving force behind entrepreneurship," the statement noted.

"The development of a dynamic entrepreneurial society requires individuals who are innovative, visionary, and ready to take the risk of starting-up a new business.

"A vibrant entrepreneurial society is central to the growth of the APEC economies. Substantial entrepreneurial activity generates demand for new services, products, and jobs."

Ministers also highlighted the challenges brought about by globalization and the role APEC member economies have to play in dealing with these pressures.

"To cope with the challenges of globalization, APEC economies should focus on developing networks among micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME) and promotional agencies, MSME banks and MSME associations.

"The entrepreneurial environment is directly affected by: regulatory and tax burdens; labor market legislation; competition policy and legal conditions. Each economy is encouraged to speed-up efforts towards the removal of barriers to entrepreneurial behavior and not to introduce regulations that overly penalize business failure."

In the Joint Ministerial Statement Ministers also highlighted the role of education in promoting business development and stressed the importance of Members identifying and developing entrepreneurial potential in their economies.

Ministers made particular note of the difficulties that are often faced by MSMEs in accessing finance and encouraged APEC Members to seek ways and means to expand financing facilities.

Ministers also encouraged APEC Members to be proactive in developing capacity within their economies to build the capacity of SMEs to trade beyond their borders and explore export markets.

The Ministers adopted the Micro-enterprise Action Plan that is designed to help the smallest businesses in the APEC region through expanding access to new technologies, improving access to finance and undertaking greater research into the challenges facing Micro-enterprises.

Ministers also expressed their ongoing support for the ongoing cooperation between the APEC SME Working Group and other APEC fora such as the APEC Sub-committee on Standards and Conformance, the APEC Finance Ministerial Meeting, SME Financing Institutions, the OECD and business sector groups including the APEC Business Advisory Council and the APEC Women Leaders Network.

The next APEC SME Ministerial Meeting will take place on October 6 to 7 in Santiago, Chile. This will be preceded by an APEC SME Working Group meeting in Vancouver, Canada, on March 8 to 10 next year and the second SME Working Group meeting for 2004 in Santiago, on October 3 to 5.

Click here to view the full statement is available.



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The APEC Customs-Business Dialogue has called for a neutral "referee" to promote transparency and business confidence in the process of implementing more stringent supply chain security measures around the APEC region.

This was one of the central outcomes presented to the APEC Sub-Committee on Customs Procedures (SCCP) meeting in Phuket this week following the Customs-Business Dialogue in Bangkok on Monday.

Supply chain security covers areas from the sourcing of raw materials, through production and shipping to the final purchase by the consumer of a product. The primary concern for customs authorities and businesses involved in supply chain security is that the supply chain could be violated by malicious act carried out by criminals or terrorists.

The earlier Customs-Business Dialogue was attended by more than 300 delegates from the business sector, government and international organizations and discussed a range of issues relating to the topic "Trade Facilitation and Supply Chain Security: How Can they be converged?"

Chair of the SCCP, Ms. Naengnoi Na Ranong, said that the SCCP is fully committed to working with the business community in reconciling trade facilitation and security of the international trade supply chain.

"The Bangkok dialogue has produced three recommendations to ensure that increased supply chain security is business friendly," Ms. Ranong said.

"Business needs clarity and transparency of cost allocation in the implementation of supply chain security measures. Who will pay for specific aspects of improved supply chain security and how they will pay is an important issue for business.

"Secondly, there must also be a high level of government consultation with the private sector to ensure business can prepare for the introduction of new security measures.

"In the past two years there have been a number of new supply chain security measures introduced around the region. For the most part these new measures have been implemented with minimal disruption to trade. In numerous cases the introduction of electronic and paperless processing systems involved in these new measures have increased business efficiency.

"Finally the dialogue agreed that there should be an independent entity involved in the supply chain security process, such as the World Customs Organization, to participate as an independent referee. This entity should have the role of receiving inputs from both the government and the private sector to advise on the best means to implement supply security measures.

"These recommendations from the Dialogue are inline with the desire of all economies to ensure security in trade without compromising efforts to facilitate increased trade in the APEC region."

The APEC Customs-Business Dialogue was attended by over 300 delegates from around the APEC region at the Montien Riverside Hotel in Bangkok and involved a joint session of all delegates and then separate forums on Maritime Security and Air Cargo Security.

Guest speakers at the dialogue included high level representatives from the World Customs Organization, Royal Thai Customs, United States Customs Service, Australian Customs Service, and the ASEAN Freight Forwarders' Association. Speakers from the business community included senior executives from Thai Airways, United Parcel Services, PricewaterhouseCoopers and DHL.

The SCCP is tasked with overseeing the strategic direction for APEC customs initiatives and is meeting in Phuket until August 16 in the lead up to the meeting of the APEC Committee on Trade and Investment and Senior Officials Meeting over the following week.



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Members of APEC continue to express concern over the European Commission's proposed chemicals legislation at their meeting in Phuket.

These concerns were raised at a meeting of the APEC Committee on Trade and Investment following a briefing from the APEC Chemical Dialogue Steering Group on August 17.

The REACH system (Registration, Evaluation and Authorization of Chemicals) has been the subject of over 6000 comments submitted to the European Commission by a diverse range of stakeholders, including industry groups and governments in Europe, the APEC region and Latin America.

APEC filed a collective comment on May 29 which drew attention to the possible impact of the REACH system on the APEC region's manufacturing sector. The APEC submission raised concerns about the potential costs the proposed European REACH System would impose on small businesses.

The submission also noted the significant impact the proposed European system would have on developing economies and for economies whose commodity exports are crucial to their continued economic growth. It also emphasized the potential impact on downstream industry sectors, such as automobiles, electronics and other consumer goods.

Similar concerns about the proposed new European system were expressed at the last meeting of APEC Ministers Responsible for Trade in Khon Kaen, Thailand, in June. At this meeting Ministers warned of the possible impact of the REACH system on the Asia-Pacific region's manufacturing sector.

While APEC members support the overall objectives of the REACH system, enhancing the level of environmental protection surrounding chemicals should be done in a way that minimizes the impact on trade and industry and takes into account the financial implications for small and medium enterprises in the chemical industry.



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APEC, the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) have agreed to combine their comparative advantages to work together on initiatives relating to poverty reduction and economic stability.

The commitment was made at the first ever APEC Roundtable Discussion with international financial institutions on August 19, in Phuket, Thailand.

Chair of the meeting, Mr. Tej Bunnag, said the new era of cooperation would increase the efficiency of all organizations and avoid duplication of effort.

"APEC's focus on economic growth and the World Bank and the ADB's focus on development makes our cooperation both natural and imperative," Mr. Bunnag said.

"The World Bank and ADB have a wealth of research and expertise that can be leveraged through the sharing of training materials, work programs and information for project planning.

"APEC has useful forums and mechanisms to complement work undertaken by the World Bank and ADB. The APEC Leaders? and Ministerial Meetings bring together the senior political decision makers in APEC economies. These APEC events will be very useful in obtaining high-level commitment for issues of common concern to APEC and the World Bank and ADB."

Mr. Bunnag said the Roundtable between APEC, the World Bank and the ADB covered the four areas of improving counter terrorism efforts, addressing the social dimensions of globalization, building a knowledge based economy and integration into the global economy.

"Capacity building is one of the highest priorities for APEC, the World bank and the ADB in our efforts to strengthen our increasingly integrated Asia-Pacific economy," Mr. Bunnag said.

"The representatives from the World Bank, the ADB and APEC agreed that joint APEC, World Bank and ADB projects must have real impact on the ground.

"Reports and studies in themselves are of limited utility in addressing real problems such as poverty reduction. These need to be translated and customized into specific solutions for each economy to apply to its particular set of problems and to craft appropriate solutions."

The World Bank and ADB were invited to engage in the activities of APEC's Social Safety Nets Capacity Building Network. An essential part of this work includes work to build the capacity of the informal sector to deal with globalization and be integrated into the economic mainstream. The World Bank and ADB were also invited to participate in APEC's Knowledge Based Economy-related activities at a committee and working group level, and the Innovative APEC workshop.

The World Bank was represented by Mr Peter Stephens and the Asian Development Bank was represented by Mr Xianbin Yao.



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A call for "new partnerships between government and business to counteract terrorist threats" has been made by the Executive Director of the APEC Secretariat in a presentation to the United Nations Security Council's Special Meeting of the Counter Terrorism Committee in New York last Thursday.

At the Committee Meeting APEC Secretariat Executive Director, Ambassador Piamsak Milintachinda delivered an update of APEC's agenda to counter terrorism, including the Secure Trade in the APEC Region (STAR) Initiative that was endorsed by APEC Leaders last year.

"One of the most important outcomes of the first STAR Conference was the clear determination of the public and private sectors to forge a partnership to overcome the threat posed by terrorism to the regional and global economy," Ambassador Milintachinda said.

"Co-ordination between public and private entities at the national and international level was also necessary to counteract terrorist threats throughout the supply chain."

"Last week the first STAR Conference in Bangkok, Thailand brought together a broad range of key players from APEC's 21 member economies, official agencies and private sector companies."

"The purpose of the STAR conference was to identify and promote ways to facilitate the efficient and secure movement of goods and people in the APEC region."

The APEC Executive Director also informed the Committee Meeting that APEC has encouraged its member economies to meet international commitments to counter terrorism by issuing the Statement on Fighting Terrorism. In that Statement, APEC Leaders committed to faithfully and immediately implement UN Security Council Resolutions 1373 and 1390 relating to counter-terrorism.

Ambassador Milintachinda said since the September 11 attacks, the relationship between counter terrorism and trade has become particularly apparent and prompted APEC to become increasingly involved with counter terrorism issues.

"Last month in Thailand, APEC Senior Officials endorsed a Counter Terrorism Action Plan, which lists specific objectives and outputs for APEC economies that are expected to undermine terrorism and promote trade," Ambassador Milintachinda said.

"The Counter Terrorism Action Plan includes measures to secure cargoes in the air and sea, protect people in transit, secure energy supplies, and halt the financing of terrorism."

"APEC has also established a 'Counter-Terrorism Task Force (CTTF)' to promote an effective discussion and to co-ordinate the diverse range of activities related to counter-terrorism issues.

"One of the CTTF's tasks is to co-ordinate regional and bilateral capacity building and technical assistance programmes, including through consultations with international financial institutions"

"APEC economies have different levels of development and financial resources, and through capacity programmes, the strengths and potential of all people in the APEC region can be better realised."

"Another task of the CTTF is to cooperate with other international organizations such as the IMO, the WCO and ICAO, to implement the Counter Terrorism Action Plan," Ambassador Milintachinda said.

"The Committee Meeting agreed that their coordinated approach to the suppression of terrorism would be based on sharing of data and best practices relevant to global cooperation."



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Creating new Computer Emergency Response Teams (CERTs) to protect against cyber-attack will be the focus of the APEC CERT Seminar in Kuala Lumpur on 22 - 23 March.

The vulnerability of business and government computer infrastructure to cyber attack, particularly in developing economies, will also be a key issue at the meeting.

Director of the Information Technology Security Policy Office at the Ministry of Economy Trade and Industry in Japan, Mr Hidetoshi Ohno, has described the protection of internet and computer systems in the Asia Pacific as critical to the region's economic stability and security.

"Over recent years internet attacks have been increasing in frequency, sophistication and scale," said Mr Ohno.

"APEC's free trade and investment goals are at risk of being undermined by the activities of cyber criminals, terrorists and basic hackers.

"To confront this threat APEC members have agreed to establish national cybercrime units and international high-technology assistance points of contact by October 2003.

"In order to better respond to cyber attacks, CERT Coordination Centres have also been established to advise governments and business on cyber security."

Co-ordinator of the APEC CERT Seminar, Mr Alex Webling, from the Australian Attorney-General's Department, said speakers at the seminar will discuss issues that are central to specialist cyber-security teams operating efficiently with business and government sectors.

"If the business and government sectors in each APEC economy had access to the services of a local CERT, individual attacks could be quickly shut down at their source," said Mr Webling.

"Several developing economies will also receive a boost over following months to develop their cyber-security preparedness.

"Australia has committed US$100,000 to provide in-country training for Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, Thailand and Viet Nam to expand CERT capacity," said Mr Webling.

"The CERT Seminar will also outline plans for the proposed APEC CERT project that will use existing APEC funding for cyber security training in other developing APEC economies."

The CERT Seminar, co-sponsored by Japan and Australia, has been arranged through close consultation with Malaysia as host of the APEC Telecommunications and Information Working Group Conference (APECTEL 27) Conference being held from 24 to 28 March in Kuala Lumpur.

The APEC CERT Seminar will be held at the Hotel Istana in Kuala Lumpur on 22 - 23 March prior to the APECTEL 27 Conference: www.apectel27.org.my

View the APEC Fact Sheet on Computer Emergency Response Teams (CERTs)



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The APEC Telecommunications Working Group (APEC TEL) has developed a program that, with the support of governments, will encourage competing telecommunications companies to interconnect to get a better deal for customers.

The Interconnection Training Program (ITP) has been developed to assist business and governments to negotiate and formalize interconnection arrangements faster and more efficiently.

"Telecommunication is a business in which competitors must cooperate to link networks while maintaining robust competition in the marketplace," said Colin Oliver, Director for Regional Cooperation at the Australian Department of Communications, Information Technology and the Arts, who has been appointed as the project overseer of the ITP.

"Effective arrangements for interconnection require sound regulatory arrangements and the appropriate people trained to negotiate agreements and resolve disputes.

"APEC TEL is helping members in the private and public sectors to encourage investment in the extension of telecommunications networks.

"Greater investment in telecommunications infrastructure, particularly in developing economies, is essential for reducing the digital divide and building a regional knowledge based economy."

The final training session was conducted in conjunction with the APEC TEL Working Group Meeting, TEL 27 which has been taking place in Kuala Lumpur this week.

The training workshops began in Bangkok, before moving to Jakarta and then Kuala Lumpur.

The senior instructor for the program, Jim Holms, said skills that were learnt over the two days of sessions are able to be immediately implemented in APEC economies.

"The workshops equip participants to deal with a range of disciplines and market conditions they will encounter in the modern telecommunications industry," Mr Holms said.

"The ITP was targeted at increasing skill levels for senior regulatory managers in government agencies, existing businesses supplying telecommunications services and new market entrants."

Materials from the project and related resources are available on the web at: http://interconnect.ovum.com/index.htm 



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A report to guide governments in developing appropriate laws to enable the identification authentication of individuals and computers during electronic transactions has been presented at the APEC Telecommunications Information Working Group in Malaysia.

The "Electronic Authentication: Issues Relating to its Selection and Use" report has been described by eSecurity Task Group Chair, Steve Orlowski, as a major step forward in extending secure e-commerce throughout the APEC region.

"One of the major risks when exchanging money Online is knowing whether the person you are sending money to is legitimate and not a fraud," said Mr Orlowski.

"The Electronic Authentication report will assist governments to enact effective legal and policy frameworks for Internet users to determine with greater security that the person they are dealing with is genuine.

"The report provides a roadmap to assist governments to avoid obstacles that would deny their economies the benefits of electronic commerce."

The report was delivered as part of the APEC Telecommunications and Information Working Group Conference (APEC TEL 27) being held from 24 to 28 March in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Deputy Assistant Attorney-General at the U.S. Department of Justice, John G. Malcolm, has praised the initiatives in the report that he said is critical for the development of online trading in the region.

"It has been estimated that online trade in the Asia-Pacific region will grow by 720% from 2002 to 2006," Mr Malcolm said.

"This economic growth could be compromised by the activities of cyber-criminals and cyber-terrorists.

"The APEC TEL 27 meeting has brought about a number of achievements including the Electronic Authentication Report together with a number of other initiatives designed to create a safer environment for telecommunications and information networks and systems. These initiatives are in response to commitments made by APEC Leaders at their meeting in October 2002.

"The commitments made by the Leaders were designed to facilitate the implementation of cybercrime legislation in all APEC economies. It is envisaged that this legislation will assist the efforts of international cybercrime units and Computer Emergency Response Teams (CERTs) in the region.

"In their last meeting APEC Leaders stated that appropriate cybercrime legislation and systems for exchanging threat and vulnerability information should be operational by October 2003.

"In their 2002 Statement, the APEC Leaders also called for closer cooperation between law enforcement officials and business on issues of information security and fighting computer crime," Mr Malcolm said.

As part of this week's activities, APEC TEL 27 has conducted a CERT workshop, initiated projects funded by APEC to assist economies in developing CERT capabilities and in implementing Cybercrime legislation and approved the finalization of a compendium of computer security standards.

The CERT workshop, held over two days, was co-sponsored by Australia and Japan in close consultation with Malaysia as host of this week's APEC TEL meeting. The vulnerability of computer infrastructure and systems to cyber attack, particularly in developing economies was a key issue at the workshops.

Coordinator of the CERT workshop, Mr Alex Webling, Special Adviser for eSecurity at the Australian Attorney-General's Department said that the workshop was "both stimulating and challenging" and called for economies to consider ways in which APEC can establish effective CERTs across the region.

Mr Webling also said that Australia has committed US$100,000 to provide in-country training for Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam to develop CERT capacity. The APEC Budget Management Committee has endorsed an additional US$94,500 to extend this capacity building to Chile, Mexico, Peru and Russia.

The APEC Budget Management Committee has also endorsed a submission for the expenditure of US$76,000 to supplement a US$50,000 project from the United States to bring together experts in cybercrime law and policy," Mr Webling said.

"This meeting will allow them to exchange views on the development of comprehensive cybercrime legal frameworks and the establishment of cybercrime investigative capacity to cooperate between economies."

The APEC TEL 27 meeting also approved the finalization of a compendium of computer security standards. The compendium which was developed in cooperation with Standards New Zealand will assist business and government in identifying the appropriate standards for implementing security on their computer networks and systems.



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Dr. Makarim Wibisono, a former Indonesian Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York and former Indonesian Ambassador to the United Nations Security Council, has been confirmed as the Chair of the APEC Task Force on Counter Terrorism.

Dr. Makarim, who is also the Indonesia Senior Official to APEC, said as Taskforce Chair he will strive to build synergy between APEC and other international organizations that are actively working to overcome the terrorist treat.

"The global fight against terrorism is being undertaken by many organizations and members of the international community," said Dr. Makarim.

"To overcome the risk of duplicating counter terrorism efforts, the Task Force will serve as a coordinating body for activities and programs undertaken by APEC fora to counter terrorism.

"It is my expectation that the APEC Counter Terrorism Task Force will act as a liaison body to generate synergy between APEC and other international organizations confronting terrorism.

"Along with the Vice Chair of the APEC Counter Terrorism Task Force, Mr. Keiji Ide of Japan, I will work to confront the threat that terrorism poses to our regional economy."

Dr. Makarim said part of the drive to protect APEC economies from terrorism is due to the region's experience of the destruction terrorism can cause.

"Several APEC member economies have experienced first-hand the pain and horror of terrorism, and all 21 APEC members are committed to confronting the terrorist threat.

"The APEC Counter Terrorism Taskforce will work to achieve the goals established by the APEC Leaders to counter terrorism.

"APEC leaders have given APEC forums and working groups a mandate to confront the terrorist threat while at the same time ensuring that APEC's free trade and investment goals remain on track.

"Specific areas of operation will include the priorities laid out in the APEC Counter Terrorism Action Plan. These priorities include protecting cargoes as well as ships and aircraft that are engaged in international voyages, protecting people in transit and halting the financing of terrorism."

The first meeting of the APEC Counter Terrorism Task Force will take place in Khon Kaen, Thailand this coming May.



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Australia's ongoing support and assistance for developing economies in the fight against regional terrorism is a key issue to be discussed when the APEC Secretariat's Executive Director visits Australia from 1 to 7 May.

Ambassador Piamsak Milintachinda said he expects his visit will also provide an opportunity to discuss key aspects of APEC's Counter Terrorism Action Plan and other measures designed to ensure secure trade in the Asia Pacific.

"APEC appreciates Australia's contribution of technical assistance that increases the capacity for developing economies to defend against the terrorist threat," Ambassador Milintachinda said.

"Australian support for counter terrorism initiatives in developing economies helps to protect trade, business and people from terrorist acts. This keeps people safer and protects jobs in the region.

"The contribution made by Australia as a strong supporter of APEC's counter terrorism efforts helps to enable the implementation of measures such as the Container Security Initiative to protect cargos at sea, and the new IMO International Ship and Port Facility Security Code.

"Other programs that have been facilitated with Australia's support include the Advanced Passenger Processing system, the provision of electronic quarantine and sanitary certificates and the development of Computer Emergency Response Teams.

"Without such assistance, many APEC economies would face difficulties in meeting the new international standards for the secure transport of goods and people."

Following an address to the Lloyd's List DCN Port and Maritime Security Conference in Sydney this Friday, Ambassador Milintachinda will hold high-level discussions with Australian officials in Canberra on 5 and 6 May.

The Canberra meetings are expected to focus on ongoing regional counter-terrorism issues and preparations for the meeting of APEC Ministers Responsible for Trade taking place in Thailand in June.

"Since the September 11 and Bali terrorist attacks, and many other terrorist incidents in APEC economies, the close relationship between counter terrorism and trade has become more apparent.

"As a consequence APEC has become increasingly involved with counter terrorism issues.

"Terrorism causes not only direct damage to people and infrastructure, but can also increase the costs of doing business as security measures are stepped-up.

"APEC's aim is to ensure that increased security is implemented in a way that also uses modern technology to increase efficiency in processing cargo, services and passengers at border crossings.

"As security procedures become more stringent, the use of new technologies and procedures means that the overall efficiency of cross-border movements is increased.

"APEC's strategy to counter terrorism while improving trade also includes APEC's Counter Terrorism Action Plan that was endorsed by all APEC economies in February. This plan contains measures to secure cargoes in the air and sea, protect people in transit, secure energy supplies, and halt the financing of terrorism."

Ambassador Milintachinda said that with the meeting of APEC Ministers Responsible for Trade taking place in Khon Kaen, Thailand, on June 2 and 3, which will be preceded by a meeting of APEC Senior Officials, he will provide an update to Australian officials on the agenda and other preparations for the meeting.

"The APEC Minister's Responsible for Trade Meeting in June will give APEC an opportunity to send a strong message in support of the WTO negotiations in Geneva and other trade related issues," said Ambassador Milintachinda.

"One important issue on the agenda is the progress of measures designed to increase free trade and investment in the Asia-Pacific region through initiatives such as the Trade Facilitation Action Plan.

"The APEC Trade Facilitation Action Plan that is designed to reduce transaction costs by five percent and deliver annual savings of more than A$550 billion annually to regional business.

"This reduction in transaction costs will not only cut the cost of business, but will stimulate jobs growth and provide greater consumer choice." 



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With most of the world's largest seaports and busiest airports located in APEC economies, the APEC Secretariat Executive Director has called for greater government and business cooperation to protect port assets from terrorist threats.

In a speech to the Lloyds DCN Port and Maritime Security Conference in Sydney this afternoon, Ambassador Piamsak Milintachinda said investment by the private sector in regional security also pays dividends through efficiency improvements.

"Increasing port security through the implementation of new technologies often results in increased efficiencies in the processing of goods, services and passengers," said Ambassador Milintachinda at the conference.

"For example, the introduction of paperless trading, or the electronic lodgment and sharing of shipment information, not only enables a higher rate of detection for questionable or suspicious transport movements but also reduces transaction costs.

"Current estimates are that the adoption of paperless trading for goods shipped between APEC economies would deliver cost savings to regional business of around three per cent, or US$60 billion, each year.

"While APEC recognises that considerable investment will be needed to fully implement the reforms required, it is clear that the opportunities exist for business and government partnerships that will increase security and boost trade."

Speaking at the conference that was being held at the Sheraton Darling Harbour in Sydney, Ambassador Milintachinda praised the value of the conference for its contribution to promoting secure trade and the economic health of the region.

"Meetings such as these facilitate the co-ordination between public and private entities at the national and international level," Ambassador Milintachinda said.

"This cooperation is essential for developing strategies to counteract terrorist activities and reduce the threat that terrorism poses to the regional economy.

"It is a pleasure to be at this conference in Sydney which is a major gateway for Australian trade, and like many Australian towns and cities, has a rich maritime tradition."



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APEC Trade Ministers and Senior Officials meeting in Thailand next month will focus on strategies to rebuild business confidence and reinforce trade facilitation and business mobility to help counter the ongoing economic impact of SARS on APEC economies.

Ministers and Senior Officials will assess a range of information that will enable them to:

Assess the damage inflicted by SARS on the regional economy

Plan joint action to rebuild business confidence in the region.

Executive Director of the APEC Secretariat, Ambassador Piamsak Milintachinda, said SARS has been a key issue for APEC since the APEC Emerging Infections Network (EINet) first alerted the medical community of the virus in February this year.

"In the space of two months this unknown virus has caused disruption to both people's lives and economies of the region," Ambassador Milintachinda said.

"The Meeting of APEC Ministers Responsible for Trade in early June will be one of the highest level intergovernmental meetings to discuss the SARS issue since the virus could have serious implications to trade and investment in the region.

"APEC Trade ministers will assess the economic and social impact of SARS, look at progress made in containing SARS, and set plans in motion to enhance business mobility and facilitate trade expansion.

"Furthermore it is anticipated that Ministers Responsible for Trade will agree on joint action that APEC can take to rebuild business confidence.

"SARS is a cross border issue that has affected confidence in key sectors in APEC economies. In preparation for the Trade Ministers' meeting, APEC Senior Officials are working with stakeholders to address concerns and develop solutions for key industries that are affected by SARS."

"APEC Senior Officials meeting in Khon Kaen are also expected to consider a Joint Declaration by the Special ASEAN Leaders' Meeting on SARS on 29 April 2003 in Bangkok, Thailand that calls for APEC Health Ministers to convene as soon as possible.

"APEC is forum built around the vision of achieving a prosperous Asia-Pacific community through economic cooperation and free and open trade and investment in the Asia-Pacific region.

"The global economy of today is based not only on economic issues but is interwoven with social development and community welfare concerns that impact directly on APEC economic goals.

"To this end APEC plays a role of bringing together several levels of government and the private sector to identify common problems, build confidence and serve as a central clearing house for developing solutions."

In the area of dealing with infectious diseases APEC leaders have been proactive. In 2001 APEC Leaders endorsed a strategy to combat infectious diseases called %u2018Infectious Diseases in the Asia Pacific Region: A Reason to Act and Acting with Reason.'

The strategy provides a framework for developing systems for disease surveillance and measures for responding to outbreaks through information sharing and cooperation. This strategy was particularly useful in the rapid implementation of screening measures and standards once the extent of the SARS epidemic became apparent.

EINet is now preparing a report which will outline some of the lessons learnt in the early stages of the crisis. It is anticipated that this report will be distributed to APEC officials next week and posted online at the EINet website: www.apec.org/infectious



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Senior Business representatives from each of APEC's 21 economies will meet to discuss major issues affecting regional trade in Tokyo on 13-16 May for the second meeting of the APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC) for 2003.

ABAC Chair, Dr. Viphandh Roengpithya, said it is important for the business community, and its representatives in ABAC, to remain current with issues affecting the business in the region.

"There are a number of serious issues confronting the regional economy at the moment," Dr. Viphandh said.

"It is crucial that the business community plays a role in maintaining our regional economic health."

The ABAC meeting will produce a report of its discussions and resolutions that will be presented to the meeting of APEC Trade Ministers in Khon Kaen, Thailand, in June.

"The agenda for the meeting is in the process of being confirmed, but there will be a number of issues that can be expected to be on the agenda relating to the current business environment."

At the Tokyo meeting the ABAC members will participate in a symposium with Japanese government officials on intellectual property rights, free trade agreements and regional trade agreements, and regional financial cooperation. ABAC members will also attend a reception hosted by Japan's Foreign Minister, Yoriko Kawaguchi, and Trade Minister, Takeo Hiranuma.

The Tokyo meeting will continue to refine the Council's work program for the year 2003 and prepare input for the June meeting of APEC's Ministers Responsible for Trade.

The APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC) is the private sector arm of the APEC Forum and is made up of three senior business representatives from each of APEC's 21 member economies. These representatives are nominated to attend ABAC meetings and events by the Leaders of each economy.

ABAC provides an annual report to APEC Economic Leaders and Ministers that recommends ways to improve business and investment in the APEC region and ensure the region enjoys the benefits of globalization.

The five bodies set up within ABAC this year to develop the priorities are working groups on financial stability, trade and investment liberalization, trade and business facilitation, capacity building as well as an Action Plan Monitoring Committee.

The Council is chaired this year by Dr. Viphandh Roengpithya, who is the President of the Asian University of Science and Technology in Thailand.



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The APEC Emerging Infections Network (EINet) has cited the value of e-mail and other global information technologies for providing early warning on the dangers of the SARS epidemic.

The use of global communications technology has enabled health professionals to communicate and compare first-hand experience of the evolving SARS virus at a very early stage.

It is hoped this early information sharing, that was enabled by the APEC Emerging Infections Network, slowed the early spread of the SARS virus and consequently saved lives.

This observation was made in a report prepared by the EINet, which is based at the School of Public Health and Community Medicine at the University of Washington in Seattle, for distribution in APEC member economies and APEC forums.

EINet Director, Dr. Ann Marie Kimball, said in the report that the sharing of early information through informal channels provided benefits that were not possible before the wide-spread use of modern technologies.

"It is hoped that the use of e-mail, online information services, and other informal communication between health workers in the region saved lives by alerting health practitioners to the developing dangers of the virus," Dr. Kimball noted in the report.

"This is a form of early warning and communication that would not have been possible if the SARS Virus had appeared ten years ago."

The report entitled 'Lessons of SARS: The APEC/EINet Experience,' offers three lessons that have become apparent since the emergence of SARS.

The report notes that modern technologies have the potential to save lives by removing time and space as a barrier to the communication of crucial medical information. Secondly that health care professionals in the field utilize and appreciate the value of online resources such as EINet to share information about serious emerging medical issues. Finally the report notes that the use of informal networks of communication between health-care and policy-making interest groups lead to better decisions made in the field.

APEC is most proud of the work and efforts of the EINet in protecting the prosperity of the region. APEC EINet was launched in 1996 by APEC as a response mechanism to the threat that infections such as SARS pose to the economic and social health of the region.

The full report is available at the EINet website: 
www.APEC.org/infectious



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Senior Business representatives from each of APEC's 21 economies met here in Tokyo to discuss major issues affecting regional trade on 13-16 May, for the second meeting of the APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC) for 2003.

ABAC Chair Dr. Viphandh Roengpithya said that ABAC is concerned that SARS is having a serious negative impact on business activities in the region.

In its Interim Report to Leaders, ABAC stresses the need for transparent and timely information in the fight against SARS, the need to streamline border controls while ensuring responsible and appropriate health safeguards, and the need to strengthen regional capacity to respond to future crises. SARS cannot be used as an excuse for protectionism.

"Other serious issues confront our regional economy and business must play a role in maintaining our regional economic health," Dr. Viphandh said.

ABAC continues to believe strongly that the global economy can overcome constraints to growth only through an expanding business commitment in investment, employment and trade.

To create this return to prosperity, APEC Leaders must vigorously promote free and open trade in the APEC region; enhance security in ways that continue to allow the free flows of goods and people; and confront critical challenges in corporate governance and transparency.

ABAC's discussions in Tokyo were opened by welcoming remarks by Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi in a reception for ABAC hosted by Foreign Minister Yoriko Kawaguchi. Mr. Koizumi expressed his, "great expectations on the activities of ABAC," adding that, "this week's meeting plays a pivotal role in outlining the recommendations [for] the APEC Leaders in October."

In the meeting, ABAC finalized its 2003 Interim Report to APEC Economic Leaders under the theme, "Harmony in Diversity: Achieving Balanced and Equitable Growth." The Interim Report will be presented to the meeting of APEC Trade Ministers in Khon Kaen, Thailand, in June.

The key messages of the report are:

Remain committed to free and open trade, and achieving the Bogor Goals

APEC must re-affirm its commitment to the achievement of the Bogor Goal of free and open trade and investment in the region through increasing the momentum of negotiations on the Doha Development Agenda, concluding the negotiations in WTO on anti-dumping, reduction of customs barriers, elimination of tariff peaks and tariff escalation, development of investment rules and liberalization of trade in services. Agricultural trade policy issues - high tariffs, export subsidies and domestic support - require urgent attention.

Facilitate trade and investment. . . while addressing security concerns

APEC economies must concentrate efforts on facilitating and enhancing secure trade, taking adequate precautions against terrorism, while ensuring that heightened security does not unduly increase business costs. Simultaneously, the global objectives of effectively curtailing terrorist funding through the financial systems while respecting the privacy of bona fide customers must be maintained. Finally, APEC must reaffirm the importance of the protection of intellectual property rights, with an emphasis on protecting optical media.

Capacity building is key to achieving balanced and equitable growth

The benefits of liberalization and facilitation cannot be fully realized without building capacity for sustainable development. ABAC reiterates its call for APEC Economic Leaders to adopt a balanced approach to globalization - one that combines market opening, capacity building and full participation. APEC must move ahead its work on SMEs and micro-enterprises and on infrastructure development, including expanding broadband access in the APEC region, training to support critical infrastructure in the APEC region, and promoting a recycling-based economy.

Address corporate governance

APEC is encouraged to implement ABAC recommendations to ensure that new measures developed for good governance continue to emphasize open market mechanisms and reinforce global trade and capital market liberalization.

Facilitate Business Input to APEC

In keeping achievement of trade and investment liberalization objectives of the Bogor Goals in sight, the progress of APEC member economies' Individual Action Plans must be continuously monitored through effective and rigorous peer reviews. It is ABAC's recommendation that the review program should be continued after its current end date of 2005, and should cover all member economies.

After the close of the Tokyo meeting, ABAC members will participate in a symposium with Japanese government officials on intellectual property rights, free trade agreements and regional trade agreements, and regional financial cooperation.

The APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC) is the private sector arm of the APEC Forum and is made up of three senior business representatives from each of APEC's 21 member economies. These representatives are nominated to attend ABAC meetings and events by the Leaders of each economy.

ABAC provides an annual report to APEC Economic Leaders and Ministers that recommends ways to improve business and investment in the APEC region, and ensure the region enjoys the benefits of globalization.

The five bodies set up within ABAC this year to develop the priorities are working groups on financial stability, trade and investment liberalization, trade and business facilitation, capacity building, as well as an Action Plan Monitoring Committee.

The Tokyo meeting also refined the Council's work program for the year 2003, making major progress in this meeting.

The ABAC Chair for 2003, Dr. Viphandh Roengpithya, is the President of the Asian University of Science and Technology in Thailand.



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During two weeks between May 21 and June 3, the second round of meetings for the 2003 APEC Year will take place in Khon Kaen, Thailand.

Concluding with a meeting of APEC Ministers Responsible for Trade (MRT), this round of meetings will address several of the major issues confronting the Asia-Pacific region at the moment and also check on the progress of the APEC free trade and investment agenda.

View the Khon Kaen Meeting Agenda

Executive Director of the APEC Secretariat, Ambassador Piamsak Milintachinda, said major issues that are likely to be high on the agenda include APEC's contribution to the WTO Doha Development Agenda and the upcoming WTO Ministerial meeting in Cancun, Mexico.

"An important sub-theme for the 2003 APEC year is the call for APEC member economies to act on development pledges made through forums such as the World Trade Organization," Ambassador Milintachinda said.

"It is expected that progress by member economies and working groups to strengthen the capacity of APEC members will be discussed at the meetings over the following two weeks.

"APEC member economies have all committed to ensuring the benefits of globalization and development are shared by all economies. Identifying and assessing progress made through the WTO will provide a clearer picture of APEC's contribution to the Doha Development Agenda.

"There are also a number of other issues that will be covered, that are of lower profile, but are important for the continued success of the APEC process."

The program of events in Khon Kaen will begin on May 21 with meetings of APEC committees, working groups, task forces and other sub fora. These various fora and expert groups are the bodies tasked with coordinating the directives of APEC Leaders, Ministers and Senior Officials.

Ambassador Milintachinda said the first events on the agenda involve meetings of APEC committees, working groups and other specialized fora followed by the second APEC Senior Officials' Meeting for the year (SOM II).

"The Senior Officials' Meetings are the central forum for the Senior Officials from each APEC economy to ensure the implementation of commitments made by APEC Leaders and Ministers," Ambassador Milintachinda said.

The Senior Officials' Meeting in Khon Kaen will cover areas such as:
- Developing standards for overcoming differences between legal codes
- Creating systems to harmonize the labeling of hazardous chemicals
- Assessing the economic and social implications of the expanded mobility of skilled and unskilled labor.
- Furthering the work-plan for the Social Safety Net Capacity Building Network

APEC Counter Terrorism activities

The APEC response to the SARS Epidemic

Policy dialogue on the Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) and Regional Trade Agreements (RTAs)

Planning for the proposed APEC Health Ministers' Meeting on SARS

SOM II will also include a retreat for Senior Officials to take part in a day of informal discussion on key regional issues. This will be followed by a formal meeting of all delegations, headed by Senior Officials, on 28 May.

The meeting of Ministers Responsible for Trade will take place over two days beginning June 2.

Ministers Responsible for Trade will be presented with an outline of the key outcomes of Senior Officials and other meetings held in Khon Kaen. It is anticipated the ministers will also deliver instructions intended to guide the ongoing program of APEC working groups and other fora.

The Ministers Responsible for Trade meeting will involve an informal retreat followed by a second day of more formal meetings.

It is anticipated that the APEC Ministers Responsible for Trade will cover issues such as:

Counter Terrorism and Secure Trade

APEC Transparency Standards

APEC's Contribution to the 5th WTO Ministerial Conference in Mexico

Capacity Building for Developing Economies under the Doha Development Agenda

Interaction with the Business Community

Following the conclusion of the MRT meeting on the second day, a media conference will be held and a Statement of the Chair issued by the Minister Responsible for Trade from the Host Economy of Thailand. There will also be a question and answer session.

APEC Member Economies: Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Canada, Chile, China, Hong Kong China, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Russia, Singapore, Chinese Taipei, Thailand, United States of America, and Viet Nam.



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The agenda of the proposed APEC Health Ministers' Meeting to discuss the SARS epidemic will be discussed at the upcoming APEC Senior Officials Meeting in Khon Kaen, Thailand.

Executive Director of the APEC Secretariat, Ambassador Piamsak Milintachinda, said preparations for the meeting of APEC Health Ministers and identifying APEC's next steps in dealing with the SARS epidemic will be among important topics for APEC Senior Officials meeting in Khon Kaen next week.

"The details of the proposed Health Ministers' Meeting on SARS are due to be finalized by the Senior Officials of APEC economies," said Ambassador Milintachinda.

"It has been proposed that APEC Health Ministers will meet on the 28th of June. The precise details of the meeting will be finalized over the following two weeks.

"The job for APEC economies now is to learn from the SARS experience and the proposed Health Ministers' Meeting will provide such an opportunity.

"We anticipate the agenda will include the development of measures to further contain the epidemic while possibly identifying guiding principles to reduce the damage should similar cross-border issues arise in the future.

"SARS is more than a health issue as it has an enormous impact on the economic wellbeing of the region.

"Several APEC meetings had to be put on hold when concern and uncertainty surrounding the SARS epidemic was at its peak.

"Confidence is now returning to the region as governments and public generally come to better understand the virus.

"Hosting the APEC Senior Officials and Trade Ministers meetings on schedule in Khon Kaen is symbolic of this return in trust and confidence in each other.

"APEC meetings that were delayed are now being rescheduled and in the coming months we are all hoping travel will again pick-up and consumers will again start frequenting local businesses as usual."

Following the current round of APEC committee, working group, task force and other sub fora meetings, the APEC Senior Officials Meeting will take place in Khon Kaen, Thailand, on May 28-30. This will be followed by the Meeting of APEC Ministers Responsible for Trade in Khon Kaen on June 2-3.

The agenda for the Khon Kaen meetings is available at: www.apecsec.org.sg



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The Child Help Foundation in Khon Kaen was today presented with a donation of Baht 41,000 (SG$1,725) along with children's clothing and educational items from international staff at the APEC Secretariat in Singapore.

APEC Secretariat Executive Director, Ambassador Piamsak Milintachinda, said the presentation was a small gesture of appreciation to the people of Thailand for their hospitality in the APEC 2003 Year.

"The people of Thailand have warmly welcomed APEC delegates into their local communities. As an expression of appreciation the APEC Secretariat staff in Singapore, who represent almost all APEC member economies, have collected money, clothes and books," Ambassador Milintachinda said.

"This is a personal symbolic gift from the staff at the Secretariat that will have real benefit for the children at the Child Help Foundation.

"APEC's work is about building brighter futures for the people of the Asia-Pacific community and touching people's lives. On this visit to the North East of Thailand we believe that we can touch the lives of the children at the Child Help Foundation in a tangible way

"We hope our modest gifts go some way to help the children under the care of the Child Help Foundation to have a brighter future."

"The Child Help Foundation is a worthwhile charity for homeless and abused children in Khon Kaen.

"We are confident that the managers of the Child Help Foundation, Suriya and Utis Somjai, will be able to put the gifts to good use."

The Child Help Foundation assists abused and homeless children, many afflicted by drug addiction, ranging in age between 2 and 19 years. The foundation operates a shelter at its headquarters which is also the home of the Somjais, a Baan Suan School on farm land at the outskirts of Khon Kaen and a Small Child Development Centre in the inner city slums by the railroad tracks of Khon Kaen. Website: www.pattayalovers.com/chf/chf.htm

The APEC Secretariat Staff Social Activities Committee 2003 Charity drive was initiated by staff members as a pilot project which will be continued in the APEC 2004 Year in Chile.



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Sunday, June 1

Briefings and Bilateral Meetings

Working Lunch

Welcome Dinner Hosted by the, Mr. Vicharn Jayanandana, Governor of Khon Kaen.

Monday, June 2

Official Opening with Keynote Address by H.E. Dr. Thaksin Shinawatra, Prime Minister of Thailand

APEC Ministers Responsible for Trade Retreat

Senior Officials Report to APEC Ministers Responsible for Trade

Trade and Investment Liberalization and Facilitation (Including Counter-Terrorism and Secure Trade in the APEC Region

Strengthening the Multilateral Trading System

Developments in Regional Trade Agreements and Free Trade Agreements

New Initiatives (Including APEC Response to SARS)

Dinner hosted by H.E. Dr. Adisai Bodharamik, Thailand Minister for Commerce

Tuesday, June 3

APEC Ministers Responsible for Trade WTO Session

APEC Ministers Responsible for Trade Plenary

Interaction with the Business Community

Economic and Technical Cooperation

Statements by Observers

Other Business

Adoption of the Chair’s Statement

Press Conference (Scheduled for 14:30, Orchid Ballroom, Sofitel Hotel - Accredited Media only)



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The APEC Committee on Trade and Investment (CTI) has announced the launch of a new regional forum to capitalize on the region?s growing intellectual capabilities and opportunities presented by the life sciences sector.

The APEC Life Sciences Innovation Forum is intended to both strengthen health services in the region by intensifying efforts to promote research into new cures for diseases, and to promote stronger economic growth.

The forum is the result of a decision by APEC Leaders at the conclusion of their meeting in 2002 to place regional emphasis on innovation in life science research and development:

"We called for the establishment of a life-sciences innovation forum comprising government, private sector, and academia representatives to develop a strategic plan for life-sciences innovation in the region. This should include, as a priority, addressing the challenges of risk detection and prevention, treatment and cure of the communicable and lifestyle diseases which afflict our people" 
(APEC Leaders' Statement, Los Cabos, Mexico, 2002).

Chair of the CTI, Ms. Ng Kim Neo, said scientific advances are the key to solving many of the public health challenges facing the region.

"Aging populations, increased life expectancies and the rise of new illnesses are some of the many challenges our economies face today", said Ms. Ng.

"By being proactive, the APEC Life Sciences Innovation Forum hopes to create an environment that fosters innovation and delivers real health benefits to the people of the region.

"Innovative medical research requires the best scientists, significant financial resource allocation, a positive business environment, and a sound, science-based regulatory framework to attract investment."

"The APEC Life Sciences Innovation Forum will bring together scientific minds at the forefront of medical research, policy makers from APEC member economies and representatives of the private investment sector in an effort to establish a strategic plan for life sciences in the region."

The first forum will feature discussions on research, development, marketing and manufacturing and patient use, which are seen as the four segments of the life-sciences product development cycle.

The forum will be attended by internationally renowned speakers and round tables on a number of topics will take place including:

The role of regulation and the regulator in supporting innovation in life sciences

Public-private partnerships -- the future of innovation

How aging societies are changing approaches to the provision of health services

The frontiers of lifesciences research -- from molecules to genes

Assuring quality products -- what regulation can do to help

Real or fake? counterfeit drugs -- when lives depend on the answer

Sophisticated products need sophisticated patients -- empowering the patient

Global principles for modernizing health services systems

The Life Sciences Innovation Forum will meet in Phuket, Thailand, on 14-15 August and is expected to attract around 300 delegates.



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"APEC members are sharing the load of strengthening the capacity of the region to fight terrorism while at the same time protecting free trade.

"APEC Members accept their collective responsibility that must be achieved through implementing measures laid out in each economy's individual Counter Terrorism Action Plan.

"The APEC Counter Terrorism Task Force is identifying areas where individual economies can share skills and also provide additional assistance where it is needed."

"In our work plan for the following year, the APEC Counter Terrorism Task Force will work with each member economy to identify areas where capacity building assistance can be provided.

"These resources will mostly be provided by APEC members or APEC fora that are able to provide the infrastructure and expertise that is needed.

"APEC will also seek the assistance of international financial institutions that are able to provide additional financial resources.

"Other support may include advice and training to develop best practices and regulations for which cooperation with international organizations and the business community will be sought."

Over coming months the APEC Counter Terrorism Task Force will also continue to implement measures to achieve the targets laid out in the 'APEC Leaders Statement on Fighting Terrorism and Promoting Growth.' This is the statement issued by the Leaders of APEC economies when they met in Los Cabos, Mexico, in 2002. The statement was issued by the Leaders following growing concern of the damage terrorism was inflicting on both the social and economic well-being of the region.

The APEC Counter Terrorism Task Force will report back to the Leaders of APEC economies at the annual Leaders Meeting that will be held in Bangkok in October.



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Senior Officials from APEC's 21 Member Economies have endorsed the proposed APEC Action Plan on Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS). The plan will now be presented to APEC Ministers Responsible for Trade when they meet on June 2.

APEC Secretariat Executive Director, Ambassador Piamsak Milintachinda, said Senior Officials meeting in Khon Kaen, Thailand, emphasized that SARS is as much an economic problem as it is a health issue.

"SARS has had a negative impact on business in the region and undermined the wellbeing of the global economy," Ambassador Milintachinda said.

"Restoring public confidence is paramount so that business returns to normalcy.

"In the spirit of regional cooperation, APEC members are undertaking a number of collective measures outlined in the APEC Action Plan on SARS.

"These actions are designed to overcome the economic damage caused by SARS. The Action Plan is also a heartening illustration of APEC's responsiveness to this regional crisis."

The APEC Action Plan on SARS includes short-term initiatives relating to the exchange of information and the adoption of common guiding principles on border health screening.

In the medium to long-term, the plan includes initiatives to minimize the impact of SARS on sectors such as tourism, trade and business mobility.

The action plan also includes measures to promote cooperation to develop common standards for the monitoring and reporting of infectious diseases.

The APEC Action Plan on SARS aims to build public confidence through:

Developing a common set of principles for health screening procedures for air travelers,

Encouraging cooperation towards the prevention and treatment of SARS along with other emerging diseases; and

Exchanging accurate and timely information, ensuring best practices, and implementing a communications strategy that addresses the consequences of SARS on travel.

The Action Plan also recommends a Special Meeting of APEC Health Ministers to take place in Bangkok on June 28.

The APEC Action Plan on SARS will be available for public release after it has been considered by APEC Ministers Responsible for Trade in Khon Kaen on June 2.



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The 2003 meeting of APEC Ministers Responsible for Trade has concluded in Khon Kaen, Thailand.

The full text of the Statement of the Chair, the Ministerial Statement on SARS and the APEC Action Plan on SARS are available at the following links:

Meeting of APEC Ministers Responsible for Trade - Statement of the Chair 
http://www.apecsec.org.sg/virtualib/
minismtg/mtgmrt2003.html 

Ministerial Statement on Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS)
http://www.apecsec.org.sg/virtualib/
minismtg/mtgmrt2003_SARSstmt.html 

APEC Action Plan on Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) 
http://www.apecsec.org.sg/virtualib/
minismtg/APECActionPlanSARS_mtgmrt2003.html



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A new report on globalization has highlighted many of the benefits gained from the growing interconnectedness of people and cultures in the global economy.

The report 'Globalisation: Keeping the Gains' was prepared by the Australian Department Foreign Affairs and presented to the APEC Ministers Responsible for Trade Meeting this week in Khon Kaen, Thailand.

The report identifies a number of the advances that have become apparent in Asian economies over recent years despite the impact of the 1990's financial crisis.

Executive Director of the APEC Secretariat, Ambassador Piamsak Milintachinda, said the report was well received by delegates at the meeting.

"There is ongoing debate about the benefits of globalisation," Ambassador Milintachinda said.

"This report gives facts and insight to better inform people participating in the global economy."

The 'Globalisation: Keeping the Gains' report finds that the number of East Asians living in poverty fell by over 35 per cent or more than 150 million people, in the 12 years to 1998.

The report also cites a recent study that found better economic policies and governance account for around 40 per cent of East Asia?s superior growth performance compared with Sub Saharan Africa.

"Referring to the APEC region the report notes that over the past 20 years, globalisation has driven rapid economic growth and reduced poverty in East Asia and other open economies. East Asia's export orientated economic development and integration with the global economy has made it the fastest growing region in the world."



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The theme and sub-themes for the 2003 APEC year have been released by the host economy, the Kingdom of Thailand.

The central theme of the 2003 APEC year is:

"A World of Differences: Partnership for the Future" The incoming Executive Director of the APEC Secretariat for the 2003 APEC year, Ambassador Piamsak Milintachinda, said the 2003 theme is most suitable for the current regional economic climate.

Many of the challenges confronting the APEC region today do not respect borders or cultural differences.

To meet the challenges of economic instability, corporate governance and terrorism, we must build on our strengths to work together.

The terrorists behind acts in Russia, the Philippines and Indonesia did not discriminate between cultures and community identities. We must work together in pursuit of APEC's twin goals of enhancing security against terrorist threats while continuing to promote trade growth and economic development within the APEC region.

Working in partnership we can also reduce the cost of doing business across borders and expand the benefits of new technologies and skills to all members of APEC.

By drawing strength from our differences and working in partnership we can set common standards and regulations that all economies will observe and respect. Building greater uniformity of standards and regulations makes it easier for small and medium sized business to trade across borders and ultimately creates jobs.

"Regardless of their level of economic development, resources and financial strength, all APEC economies must forge a sense of strong partnership to foster regional economic growth."

Ambassador Piamsak said the main theme of the 2003 year is supported by a series of sub-themes that will assist APEC Working Groups and Forums to better articulate their goals for the year. These themes are listed on the attached fact sheet.

 



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Ambassador Piamsak Milintachinda of Thailand will become the eleventh Executive Director of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation Secretariat when he takes up his post on 1 January, 2003.

After serving as the Deputy Executive Director through 2002, Ambassador Piamsak said he looks forward to working toward the goals of the 2003 APEC year that will be hosted by Thailand.

"A world of differences - partnership for the future is the APEC theme for 2003," Ambassador Piamsak said.

The 2003 APEC year will be all about making the most from the perse strengths of the 21 APEC members.

The focus of APEC 2003 will be aimed at restoring prosperity and dynamism in the Asia Pacific region.

Regardless of their level of development, resources and financial strength, all APEC economies must forge a partnership to foster regional economic growth.

Identifying areas of synergy will help APEC members to move faster towards our goals of free and open trade and investment for developed economies by 2010 and for developing economies by 2020.

"I also intend to build on the work of my predecessor from Mexico, Ambassador Alejandro de la Peña, to further strengthen the capacity and efficiency of the Secretariat by the conclusion of my term in December 2003."

Ambassador Piamsak was born in Bangkok in 1950. Educated at Chulalongkorn University in Thailand and Wayne State University in the United States, Ambassador Piamsak has served in the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs since 1977.

During his career Ambassador Piamsak has represented Thailand on numerous postings including Singapore, New York and Geneva.

Ambassador Piamsak has extensive experience in international trade issues and served as the Deputy Permanent Representative for the Thailand Mission to the World Trade Organization from 1995 to 1998.

Returning to Thailand after his posting to the WTO, Ambassador Piamsak was appointed Deputy Director-General of the Department of ASEAN Affairs and then as the Deputy Director-General of Department of European Affairs at the Thailand Ministry of Foreign Affairs.



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The Executive Director of the APEC Secretariat, Ambassador Piamsak Milintachinda, will arrive in Honolulu this morning to attend the OECD-APEC Global Forum on the Knowledge Economy.

Ambassador Piamsak has praised Hawaii's convenient geographic location and world-class facilities for hosting regional meetings.

"Hawaii is convenient for officials from the United States as it can be reached on a domestic flight," Ambassador Piamsak said.

"For our Asian, Latin American and South Pacific economies, Hawaii can be reached either by direct flights or usually with only one change of aircraft.

"For most APEC economies Hawaii is an easily accessible location with a broad range of facilities for our delegates to meet and focus on the issues at hand."

Ambassador Piamsak said while not all people in Hawaii would be aware of the work carried out by the OECD and APEC, he hoped the forum would raise some local awareness of both organizations and their activities which impact on the lives of people in Hawaii.

"Speaking on behalf of APEC, we are a regional forum of 21 Asia-pacific economies that was created with the goal of reducing barriers to trade and investment and strengthening regional cohesion.

"A great deal of our work at APEC involves seeking ways to reduce red-tape and the layers of bureaucracy that prevent people and businesses from selling their skills internationally.

"One of the benefits of this work is that international trade becomes more accessible for small and medium sized business, including those in Hawaii, to sell their goods and services internationally. This creates jobs and income for people in Hawaii and people around the region.

"Regional meetings and forums such as the OECD-APEC Global Forum on the Digital Economy have a direct impact on the lives of the people in the region.

"At this meeting we are identifying ways to extend access to the digital economy and the Internet for all people in APEC and the OECD.

"This includes economically disadvantaged people in the smallest countries and economies to the largest such as the United States and Japan.

"At these meetings officials from government, the private sector and community organizations map out reforms and plans to build our region, to create jobs and raise living standards.

"APEC related meetings take place in all of our 21 economies throughout the year. "One of the goals of these meetings is to draw international attention to the local area in which the meeting is being held.

"I hope this meeting will draw further attention to Hawaii as a venue for conferences and meetings.

"Hawaii is very well equipped to host these meetings. I look forward to meeting with representatives of the Hawaii government, business and local community."

Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) has 21 Members:

Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Canada, Chile, People's Republic of China, Hong Kong China, Indonesia, Japan, Republic of Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Republic of the Philippines, Russia, Singapore, Chinese Taipei, Thailand, United States of America, Viet Nam.

Each year the host economy of APEC activities such as the APEC leaders meetings rotates between APEC economies.

The 2003 APEC year is hosted by the Kingdom of Thailand.

The APEC Secretariat is based in Singapore.

The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) has 30 Members:

Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Korea, Luxembourg, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovak Republic, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, United Kingdom, United States of America.

The OECD Headquarters is based in Paris, France.



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"Strengthening the partnership between the government and private sector to maximize digital economy access" will be a key message the Executive Director of the APEC Secretariat will deliver the OECD-APEC Global Forum on the Knowledge Economy in Honolulu on January 15.

Ambassador Piamsak Milintachinda said access to the knowledge-based economy is a fundamental necessity for growth in all APEC and OECD economies.

"Every APEC and OECD economy, regardless of its level of economic development, is home to people who have the potential to be leaders in the digital economy if only they were given the opportunity," said Ambassador Piamsak.

"Technology of today such as the Internet means that young people in every corner of the earth should be able to access education and training in ways that were not possible in the past.

"Collectively the government and the private sector can work together to broaden access to the digital economy.

"Working together, Governments and the private sector from APEC and the OECD already undertake projects designed to increase access to the digital economy. There is always room to strengthen this government and private sector cooperation.

"The private sector has a role to play alongside governments in investing in human capacity and raising skill levels.

"Current priorities for APEC governments include fostering more dynamic market conditions that will encourage business to invest and trade in areas that have limited access to the digital economy.

"The key tool for APEC to open up the digital economy is the reform and liberalization of trade and investment policies in APEC economies.

"The leaders of APEC economies have also made a commitment in the 'APEC Digital Divide Blueprint for Action' to triple the number of people in the region with direct internet access by 2005.

"By 2010 the APEC goal is that all people in the APEC region will have at least community-based access to the Internet.

"This forum will provide the opportunity for me to outline APEC's digital economy related programs to the OECD and other interested parties.

Ambassador Piamsak said that as governments reduce barriers to trade and investment there is an increasing responsibility on the private sector to invest in human capacity building.

"Reducing barriers to trade and investment creates opportunities for business to introduce and develop the skills required for developing areas to participate in the digital economy.

"Ultimately private sector investment in training and skills development will not only create jobs, but will provide business with a local pool of skilled workers to draw from."

Ambassador Piamsak said promoting the knowledge-based economy is one of the central themes of the 2003 APEC year hosted by Thailand.

"The APEC theme for 2003 is: 'A World of Differences: Partnership for the Future.'

"The people of all APEC-OECD economies have great entrepreneurial capacity that comes from our diverse cultures and histories.

"We must work together to ensure that we share the best of our skills, knowledge and talent to build a stronger global economy that will benefit all people.

"Increased trade, more jobs and higher living standards are the end result of people in all APEC economies bringing their natural skills to the global market place.

"By sharing and developing our strengths we all benefit."



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The President of the Pacific Basin Economic Council (PBEC) has proposed an increasingly active contribution from the council's membership in the APEC process of facilitating regional free trade and investment.

PBEC President, Mr Dalton Tanonaka, offered the further strengthening of links at a meeting with APEC Executive Director, Ambassador Piamsak Milintachinda, in Honolulu this week.

Ambassador Piamsak said he welcomed the prospect of increased involvement of PBEC members in promoting trade and investment liberalisation in the region.

"PBEC has offered a more active contribution to the APEC process from their 1,000 business members," said Ambassador Piamsak.

"Initially this contribution is likely to include the preparation of a major report outlining businesses views on key trade sector issues.

"PBEC is a well respected organisation pursuing similar objectives to APEC of fostering free trade and investment, economic growth and community development in our region.

"I am confident this offer of increased participation from PBEC will be well received by contributors to the APEC process such as our own APEC Business Advisory Council with whom PBEC held a joint business meeting last year."

Ambassador Piamsak also briefed Mr Tanonaka on arrangements for the APEC CEO Summit that will be held in Bangkok in November 2003.

"PBEC has offered to assist the organisers of this year's CEO Summit by attracting guest speakers, sponsors from their membership and in facilitating logistical arrangements."

The meeting between Ambassador Piamsak and Mr. Tanonaka took place at the start of the OECD-APEC Digital Economy Forum currently taking place in Honolulu.

At the forum Ambassador Piamsak outlined APEC plans and initiatives for 2003 APEC year hosted by Thailand.

Under the central theme of: "A World of Differences: Partnership for the Future," this year APEC will give priority to five key areas including opening access to the knowledge based economy.



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Senior executives of the APEC Secretariat and the OECD met this week to strengthen links between the two organisations and identify means to build a closer working relationship. The meeting took place during the OECD-APEC Digital Economy Forum currently taking place in Hawaii.

OECD Deputy Secretary General, Mr Herwig Schlögl, and APEC Executive Director, Ambassador Piamsak Milintachinda, have proposed a number of measures to share economic information and research.

"APEC and the OECD have already undertaken a number of joint initiatives," said Ambassador Piamsak Milintachinda.

"The success of the recent APEC-OECD cooperation on Regulatory Reform, SMEs and the Digital Economy are examples of us working together in areas where we share similar objectives.

"Mr Schlögl has offered the APEC Secretariat the opportunity to participate in activities organised by the OECD including its Global Fora program and this is most welcome.

"For our part, the APEC Secretariat is planning to establish an OECD liaison point within the Secretariat to facilitate the systematic exchange of information between our two organisations.

"Much of the economic analysis and reporting published by the OECD is very useful to APEC's work. I am also confident the OECD will be able to make use of the research on the Asia-Pacific region that is conducted by APEC fora.

"Closer links between both organisations will avoid resource wastage and work duplication.

"In our meeting Mr Schlögl said he looked forward to APEC's participation at the OECD SME Ministerial Meeting to be held in Istanbul in June 2004.

"Strengthening SMEs and news growth enterprises is one of the key themes of the 2003 APEC year. We look forward to again participating on projects and programs with the OECD."

During Ambassador Piamsak Milintachinda's attendance at the OECD-APEC Digital Economy Forum he also met United States Federal Trade Commissioners, Orson Swindle and Mozelle Thompson.

Commissioner Swindle offered to assist APEC to implement its programs in areas such as cyber security and on-line consumer protection.

Commissioner Thompson discussed preparations for the APEC On-line Privacy Workshop to be held in Chiang Rai, Thailand on 14 February.



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In the year 2004 Chile will host several meetings that will be attended by the 21 "economies" of the APEC (Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation) forum including the annual Leaders summit. This intergovernmental consultative forum includes most of the economies of both shores of the Pacific, a region of dynamic growth and expanded trade. APEC represents approximately 50% of the world-wide GDP, more than 47% of the global commerce and almost has half of the population of the globe. Around 55% of the Chilean exports are directed to the members of the APEC. Of Chile's 15 largest markets, seven are APEC economies and represent 87% of our exports.

By the end of the 1980's, the largest economies of the world had shown a strong interest in extending their markets. The European Community announced a single market, while the U.S.A. and its neighbors were looking at possibility of establishing a free trade area. The Asian and oceanic economies (New Zealand and Australia), worried that these agreements represented barriers for the trade of their products, met in Canberra, in 1989, as an initiative of prime minister of Australia, Bob Hawke. This was the first official forum of the 12 economies of APEC. In the nine following years, a further nine economies joined APEC including Chile it in 1994.

In the 1991 summit, hosted by Seoul, the objectives of APEC were established as:

a. To maintain regional economic growth and development with the goal of contributing to the growth and development of the world economy.

b. To accentuate the regional and international gains derived from increasing economic interdependence through the flow of goods, services, capital and technology.

c. To develop and fortify the system of multilateral commerce that is in the interest of all the economies of Asia Pacific.

d. To reduce trade barriers for goods, services and investment between APEC members. These are what has become known as the "Three Pillars of APEC." The liberalization of commerce and investment; the facilitation of commerce and investment, and economic and technical cooperation.

The meetings between government minister and officials, and the annual meeting of the leaders of all APEC economies are the most important elements of the APEC process. They allow a flexible and informal dialogue that facilitates agreements and understandings. APEC has become a very valuable community for Chile, as we open our borders to global trade.

The periodic meetings have importance for ministers from each of the diverse APEC economies come together as part of a complex network of shared interests. There is special importance in the annual meeting of Finance Ministers to which the highest representatives of regional finance ministries meet. The officials given the task of implementing the APEC process are the senior public officials from each economy who implement the instructions endorsed at the annual Leaders Meeting and the ministerial meetings. These senior public officials coordinate APEC related tasks in each economy. Coordination and representation of Chile in the APEC process is the responsibility of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

A permanent APEC Secretariat with a small number of professionals is based in Singapore. This serves as an information exchange centre and support facility for the different APEC forums. Management of the APEC Secretariat is the responsibility of the Executive Director and the Deputy Executive Director. Both positions are appointed by the member economy that will host of the Summit of the current year and the economy that will be host in the following year.

An important APEC body is the private enterprise consultative forum of APEC called the APEC Business Advisory Council or ABAC. This is made up of three leading business people from each member economy. ABAC is a demonstration of the interest APEC leaders place in creating an effective avenue for cooperation with the business community in the interregional process.

As an intergovernmental consultative forum APEC is a new model of international cooperation. Flexibility and informality are two of APEC's fundamental characteristics as decisions are adopted by consensus. Some observers define APEC as an intergovernmental mechanism directed to fortify commercial liberalization and investments in the region Asia Pacific. Others identify APEC as a process by which the concept of a regional "community" of the economies can be established. In Bogor, Indonesia, an agreement was reached to establish free and open trade and investment by 2010 for industrialized economies and by 2020 for developing economies. In Summits at Osaka and Manila in the years after Bogor, agreements were adopted in which the process of liberalization would be overseen through "coordinated operations" and through individual action and collective plans. In the process of its progressive elimination, Chile made a series of commitments that includes: a unilateral reduction of tariffs to 0% by year 2010; reciprocal and balanced conditions for trade in most of products; the detailed and transparent description of the restrictions that face service and investment restrictions in Chile; and, the provisions of clear descriptions of the existing non-tariff measures in place in Chile.

Chile will face a great challenge in 2004 as the host of some of the most important and dynamic economies in our region. After having successfully completed negotiations with the EU and the U.S.A., our eyes must go through the Pacific to these partners in APEC, with which we have been creating an increasing community in the last eight years. That challenge falls on numerous organizations, both public and private sectors, to coordinate activities in order to present our best face. 



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Developing greater e-commerce security and consumer confidence is the objective of an APEC conference taking place in Thailand on Thursday, February 13.

'Addressing Privacy Protection: Charting a Path for APEC' is the title of the conference that will bring privacy advocates, businesses and government representatives together to develop a new approach to online data privacy for the Asia-Pacific Region.

Executive Director of the APEC Secretariat, Ambassador Piamsak Milintachinda, said that the day-long conference will address some of the main fears people have with transacting online and seek practical solutions.

"From this e-commerce conference we hope to lay the groundwork for APEC policy guidelines on data privacy," said Ambassador Milintachinda.

"We are aiming to develop an approach to privacy protection that will enhance consumer trust in e-commerce.

"The potential of e-commerce, particularly for small and medium sized businesses, is enormous.

"Trading online is one of the purest forms of cross-border trade that is not compromised by red-tape and traditional barriers to trade.

"One of the greatest obstacles to expanding e-commerce is the issue of data privacy and what this means for consumer confidence.

"The problem is that many businesses and consumers do not feel secure providing private information over the internet in order to complete online transactions.

"The way to overcome these fears is through the development of transparent standards of data protection.

"There is no question that laws and standards on e-commerce and data privacy are crucial.

"Private information must be protected in a way that does not inhibit the flexibility required for online trading to be effective.

"This APEC conference will bring together some of the most informed speakers on the subject of on-line data privacy from legal, academic, business and government circles.

"Presentations will be given by privacy officers from companies such as IBM and Oracle.

"Privacy advocates and government officers will outline their priorities and concerns, as will a number of researchers and academics.

"This conference highlights the importance of data privacy as an important policy aspect of the burgeoning e-commerce industry in the Asia-Pacific."

Ambassador Piamsak said the issue of data privacy is particularly relevant to the 2003 APEC sub-theme of expanding the knowledge based economy.

"Developing and expanding access to the digital or knowledge based economy is an important sub-there of the 2003 APEC year hosted by Thailand," said Ambassador Milintachinda.

"Enhancing standards between economies in areas such as data privacy helps build a stronger environment for the expansion of e-commerce and the digital economy.

"Expanding free trade on the Internet is another step towards APEC's Bogor Goals of free and open trade between developed APEC economies by 2010 and between developing economies by 2020."

The 'Addressing Privacy Protection: Charting a Path for APEC' conference will be held in Chiang Rai, Thailand, and will coincide with the first APEC Senior Officials Meeting for 2003.

Key participants include:

Mr. Peter Ferguson, Chair of the APEC E-Commerce Steering Group.

Mr. Kunying Dhipvadee Meksawan, Ministry of Information and Technology, Thailand.

Mr. Murray Long, Murray Long & Associates, Canada.

Mr. Naoshi Shima, NEC Corporation, Japan

Professor Masao Horibe, Chuo University, Japan.

Mr. Joseph Alhadeff, Oracle Corporation, United States.

Mr. Peter Ford, Attorney General's Department, Australia. 



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Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) is a primary regional vehicle for promoting trade and investment and practical economic cooperation. The end result of APEC activities throughout the region include increased trade, expanded employment opportunities and ultimately ongoing community development.

APEC has a membership of 21 economic jurisdictions with a population of over 2.5 billion. The combined APEC GDP is 19 trillion US dollars accounting for 47 percent of world trade. As a core set of objectives, APEC is working to achieve what are referred to as the 'Bogor Goals' of free and open trade and investment in the Asia-Pacific by 2010 for developed economies and 2020 for developing economies. APEC's trade and investment liberalization and facilitation efforts have contributed to strong economic growth and development in the Asia-Pacific.

One of the great benefits of this improved interaction and trade between APEC economies has been the increased participation of women in all facets of economic life in our region. APEC's experience demonstrates that globalization can be a positive force for reducing poverty and with this improving the lives of women. However much remains to be done to ensure that women reap the benefits of economic development and trade liberalization. APEC has placed strong emphasis on gender integration and has given priority to these issues in the approval and implementation of projects.

In 1999 APEC Economic Leaders welcomed the Framework for the Integration of Women in APEC. The Framework provides a practical and systematic approach to guide APEC in the achievement of the integration of women in the mainstream of APEC processes and activities. It comprises three inter-related elements: gender analysis; collection and use of sex-disaggregated data; and involvement of women in APEC fora.

A SOM Ad-hoc Group on Gender Integration (AGGI) was formed to monitor and ensure the implementation of the Framework across APEC and strengthen the institutional capacity for the implementation of the Framework. The AGGI was tasked to complement the responsibility and accountability of individual APEC fora for the implementation of the Framework.

APEC projects on gender integration have focused on increasing awareness of the Framework amongst APEC fora; developing sustainable gender integration practices and consolidating resources to help integrate gender into the APEC agenda. AGGI work has included:-

Undertaking 28 Gender Integration Sessions in various APEC fora as well as SOM and the APEC Secretariat since March 2000;

Developing gender criteria for use in all applications of APEC project funding;

Organizing an intensive workshop that was attended by 16 economies on the development and use of sex-disaggregated data;

Publishing a booklet on gender mainstreaming which provided case studies of best practices;

Developing an improved format for providing information to SOM for its report to the Ministers on the implementation of the Framework;

Developing the APEC website dedicated to gender integration; and

Developing a gender resource kit which will provide a durable source of gender information.

A recent development in efforts to provide further focus for APEC gender integration activities have been the creation of an APEC Gender Focal Point Network (GFPN). This project was endorsed by Ministers from APEC economies attending the 14th APEC Ministerial Meeting in Los Cabos, Mexico in October 2002. It is envisaged that the GFPN will work to maintain investment in gender tools, expertise and practices; and continue APEC leadership on issues that affect the economic advancement of women in the APEC region.

The broad goal of GFPN will be to provide linkages for information sharing and support between APEC Fora, APEC Economies and the APEC Secretariat. This is as one of the ways APEC is working to advance the economic interests of women in the Asia-Pacific region for the benefit of all economies in the APEC region. GFPN will maintain and advance the implementation of the Framework and the work of SOM Ad-hoc Group on Gender Integration in maintaining awareness of gender issues.

In summary, the GFPN will:

Assist APEC forums, working groups and committees to identify and address gender issues within their scope of work;

Promote and report on women's representation across APEC and within individual fora;

Assess and report on the use of gender criteria in project proposals, reporting and evaluations, and as a consequence, revising the gender criteria where appropriate;

Collect and share good practices in gender integration amongst fora;

Support and report on the progress of implementation of gender integration within individual fora and across APEC economies;

Facilitate provision of gender expert advice by women with expertise related to APEC at all levels.

APEC's gender integration programs will include working with members of the Civil Society and Businesses. This contribution of civil society will be facilitated through the support from the APEC Women Leaders Network (WLN). This is an informal network of women in business, government, academe and civil society from the 21 APEC member economies.

The APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC), which is a permanent forum established to advise Leaders and other APEC officials on issues of interests to business, also has a role to play in empowering women in our region. Specifically ABAC can play a role in ensuring that gender issues are integral to all APEC activities relating to the business and policy formulation processes.



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Canada has been described as "one of the most trade-oriented economies in the world" in a report assessing the actions Canada has taken to liberalize and open its economy.

The findings were presented in the 'Individual Action Plan (IAP) Study Report' on Canada's progress towards APEC's 'Bogor Goals' of free and open trade and investment by the year 2020.

Presented to a 'peer review session' of representatives of APEC member economies in Chiang Rai, Thailand, the report is an assessment of how well individual APEC member economies have progressed towards the Bogor Goals.

Agreed by APEC Leaders in Bogor, Indonesia, in 1994, the Bogor Goals set the target of free and open trade and investment in the APEC region to be achieved by 2010 for industrialized economies and 2020 for developing economies.

Prepared by independent expert, Mr Greg McGuire, Senior Economist from Economic Insights in Australia, the report stated: "Canada should be commended for its liberal and transparent trade and investment regime brought about through reforms issued in recent years."

Mr McGuire also noted that from the time when APEC economies began the peer review process, Canada already had a liberal and transparent regime. Despite this strong starting position the report noted that Canada has continued to implement liberalization reforms.

"Canada has low and few MFN tariffs but about 90 per cent of imports enter duty free," Mr McGuire stated in the report.

"Most goods enter Canada under preferential rates set out in regional trading agreements and preferences are granted to developing countries.

"Canada's simple average MFN tariff is 4 per cent.

"Canada also has a policy that reduces any tariff to zero once it falls below 2 per cent.

"From 1996 to 2002, Canada has implemented major liberalization reforms that included reductions in tariffs, simplifying the tariff regime and removing many of the restrictions for trade between the provinces under the Agreement on Internal Trade.

"International telecommunications services were open to competition in 1998 and foreign bank branches were permitted to enter the Canadian financial market in 1999."

Mr McGuire also cited Canada's efforts in assisting developing economies in the APEC region.

"Canada has also been very active in providing technical assistance and cooperation to other APEC member economies and this contribution should not be underestimated.

"It has provided technical assistance in many areas including intellectual property rights, customs and e-commerce.

"Approximately 82 per cent of tariff lines offer preferential rates to developing economies and 16 APEC member economies are eligible for these tariff rates."

Mr McGuire did make a note of caution in that like many other APEC member economies, Canada maintained higher protection in some sensitive areas.

"While Canada is relatively liberal and transparent, there continues to be higher protection in some areas which include agriculture, textiles and clothing, some service sectors and foreign direct investment in some sectors."

Higher protection has been maintained in these sectors for reasons of health, safety, security or environment.

However McGuire stated in the report that considering its past performance, Canada appears on track to achieve the Bogor Goals and has made progress in sensitive areas.

"The Government of Canada has reduced many of its tariffs, including in sensitive sectors, since 1996.

"Canada has a creditable history of implementing ongoing reforms which stands it in good stead to implement further reforms by 2010."

Every APEC member economy submits an annual Individual Action Plan (IAP) that provides details of how that economy expects to reach the Bogor Goals.

Other economies being reviewed in 2003 are Thailand and Australia. These reports are also being presented to representatives of APEC member economies on the eve of the first 2003 APEC Senior Officials meeting in Chiang Rai, Thailand, this week.

The reviews are conducted by a team comprised of an independent expert, a moderator and a discussant who are usually senior officials from an APEC economy, and a representative of the APEC Secretariat.

The full text of the 'Individual Action Plan (IAP) Study Report - Canada 2002' is available on the APEC Secretariat's Website: www.apecsec.org.sg

Report of Canada's Individual Action Plan (IAP) Peer Review
Annex 1 - Summary
Annex 2 - IAP Study Report-Canada 2002
Annex 3 - Discussant's Remarks
Annex 4 - Presentation by Canada
Annex 5 - Written Questions Received During the Session
Report of Canda's Individual Action Plan (IAP) Peer Review + All Annexes



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An independent APEC assessment has concluded that despite the recent economic crisis, Thailand is half way towards achieving its free trade goals in only 7 years of the set 24 year reform and liberalization schedule.

The findings were presented in the 'Individual Action Plan (IAP) Study Report' on Thailand's progress towards APEC's 'Bogor Goals' of free and open trade and investment by the year 2020.

Presented to a 'peer review session' of representatives of APEC member economies in Chiang Rai, Thailand, the report is an assessment of how well individual APEC member economies have progressed towards the Bogor Goals.

Agreed by APEC Leaders in Bogor, Indonesia, in 1994, the Bogor Goals set the target of free and open trade and investment in the APEC region to be achieved by 2010 for industrialized economies and 2020 for developing economies.

The report prepared by independent expert, Mr Peter Clark, President of Grey, Clark, Shih and Associates from Ottawa, Canada, praised Thai officials for their "exemplary cooperation" with the Peer review team and said Thailand "had passed all tests with by a healthy margin."

"Thailand is the first APEC developing economy to volunteer for the more rigorous Peer review process," Mr Clark said.

"Thailand was universally commended by representatives of all economies who spoke for the excellence of their presentation and the comprehensive study report.

"The well coordinated, comprehensive and high-tech presentation was greeted with applause. Such a warm response is most unusual for presentations on subjects involving tariff reform and product standards.

Mr Clark said that concerns about specific issues and a tariff reduction request made by APEC economies was positively responded to by Thai officials.

"Areas which require improvement were noted in the report. These include textiles, agriculture and steel and are seen to be politically sensitive and resistant to change.

"However market opening is anticipated as a result of the ASEAN China Free Trade Agreement that will create the competitive environment to promote reforms.

"This will enable Thailand to better address these pockets of protection to the benefit of both Thai industry and consumers.

"It is in Thailand's interest to liberalize its trade and investment rules. In the contemporary global economy, competition for investment funds means that economies with the least complicated and more transparent rules will be more attractive to international investment.

At the same time public service and regulatory reform and more open trade and investment systems will enhance Thailand's competitive standing.

Highlights of the Action Plan (IAP) Study Report' on Thailand included:

Major actual and planned reductions in average tariffs

Improved economic performance including early repayment of IMF loans

Public service reform

The Customs Master plan for reform

Corporatisation of State Enterprises

New laws and regulations to help Thailand cope with globalisation and the emergence of China as a major competitor for investment and markets

Liberalisation of foreign investment, government procurement and trade in services rules.

Mr Clark explained that the peer review process must be adapted to the needs and limited human and financial resources available to developing economies and offered a number of suggestions to the participants.

"Thailand's review was a mutual learning experience for both Thailand and the peer review team which should be shared with other developing economies in order to optimize the benefits of peer review for all APEC economies.

Every APEC member economy submits an annual Individual Action Plan (IAP) that provides details of how that economy expects to reach the Bogor Goals.

Other economies being reviewed in 2003 are Canada and Australia. These reports have also been presented to representatives of APEC member economies on the eve of the first 2003 APEC Senior Officials meeting in Chiang Rai, Thailand, this week.

The reviews are conducted by a team comprised of an independent expert, a moderator who is usually a senior official from an APEC economy, a discussant and a representative of the APEC Secretariat.

The full text of the 'Individual Action Plan (IAP) Study Report - Thailand 2002' is available on the APEC Secretariat's Website: www.apecsec.org.sg

Report of Thailand's Individual Action Plan (IAP) Peer Review
Annex 1 - Summary
Annex 2 - IAP Study Report - Thailand 2002 and it's corrigendium
Annex 3 - Discussant's Remarks
Annex 4 - Presentation by Thailand
Annex 5 - Written Questions Received During the Session
Report of Thailand's Individual Action Plan (IAP) Peer Review + All Annexes



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An independent APEC assessment has identified Australia as being ahead of schedule to achieve regional free trade and investment goals before the deadline of 2010, but potential issues have been identified in Australia's approach to free trade in animal and plant products.

The findings were presented in the 'Individual Action Plan (IAP) Study Report' on Australia's progress towards APEC's 'Bogor Goals' of free and open trade and investment in the Asia-Pacific region.

Presented to a 'peer review session' of representatives of APEC member economies in Chiang Rai, Thailand, the report is an assessment of how well individual APEC member economies have progressed towards the Bogor Goals.

Agreed by APEC Leaders in Bogor, Indonesia, in 1994, the Bogor Goals set the target of free and open trade and investment in the Asia-Pacific region to be achieved by 2010 for industrialized economies and 2020 for developing economies.

The report prepared by independent expert, Professor Ippei Yamazawa, of the Waseda University School of Asia-Pacific Studies in Tokyo, stated it was anticipated Australia "will be able to achieve the Bogor Goals" of free trade and investment in Australia by 2010.

"In such areas as Tariffs, Non-Tariff Measures, Services, and Investment, Australia has implemented autonomous liberalisation beyond its Uruguay Round commitments so that it will reach the Bogor target by 2010 with continued efforts along the same lines," Professor Yamazawa noted in the report.

"As regards facilitation areas, Australia has been taking a strong initiative in implementing collective action plans in Business Mobility and Customs Procedures.

"It (Australia) has faithfully implemented the Osaka Action Agenda in Standards and Conformance and Intellectual Property Rights.

"Australia has gone ahead of many APEC members in arranging and implementing competition policy and deregulation."

The report was also complimentary of the Australian structure for implementing economic policy.

"Australia is assisted by its well-structured procedures of implementing economic policies, consistent with transparency and accountability, faithful to the economics textbook.

"It is also helped by being a medium sized economy with high dependence on trade and investment.

"Australians are outward-oriented so they are less receptive to domestic protectionist pressures than other APEC members."

However, the study noted constraints which have the potential to make trade and investment in animal and plant trade difficult and costly to negotiate.

"In order to maintain its natural plant and animal endowments on an isolated continent, Australia has been implementing strict quarantine procedures and sanitary and phyto-sanitary measures, which foreign foodstuff exporters find sometimes difficult to clear."

A final recommendation made by Professor Yamazawa was that Australia could do more to assist developing economies to achieve the Bogor Goals.

"Australia has actively pursued the Bogor Goals and its efforts should be highly praised.

However, Professor Yamawaza suggested that Australia could actually go beyond achieving its own Bogor Goal of 2010 and play an active role in assisting others, especially developing economy members, to make progress towards their Bogor Goal of 2020.

To reflect that role, Professor Yamawaza said Australia's IAP should include more information on its capacity building and technical assistance and cooperation in the chapters on Standard and Conformance, Customs Procedures, Intellectual Property Rights, and Competition Policy."

Every APEC member economy submits an annual Individual Action Plan (IAP) that provides details of how that economy expects to reach the Bogor Goals.

Other economies being reviewed in 2003 are Thailand and Canada. These reports are also being presented to representatives of APEC member economies on the eve of the first 2003 APEC Senior Officials meeting in Chiang Rai, Thailand, this week.

The reviews are conducted by a team comprised of an independent expert, a moderator and a discussant who are usually senior officials from an APEC economy, and a representative of the APEC Secretariat.

The full text of the 'Individual Action Plan (IAP) Study Report - Australia 2002' is available on the APEC Secretariat's Website: www.apecsec.org.sg

Report of Australia's Individual Action Plan (IAP) Peer Review
Annex 1 - Summary
Annex 2 - IAP Study Report-Australia 2002
Annex 3 - Discussant's Remarks
Annex 4 - Presentation by Australia
Annex 5 - Written Questions Received During the Session
Report of Australia's Individual Action Plan (IAP) Peer Review + All Annexes.



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Reforms that simultaneously enhance security controls while facilitating the Asia-Pacific region's US$2.8 trillion export trade is an objective of the Secure Trade in the APEC Region (STAR) Conference to be held in Bangkok, 23-25 February.

APEC Executive Director, Ambassador Piamsak Milintachinda, said the STAR Initiative supports the twin goals of promoting trade efficiency at the same time as controls are strengthened over trade in the APEC region.

"All APEC economies are strengthening air and sea port security to protect against terrorist activities and threats," said Ambassador Milintachinda.

"Last year APEC Leaders agreed to a package of measures designed to strengthen security against the terrorist threat while simultaneously boosting trade efficiency. An important aspect of this was to ensure that increased controls added efficiency to trading and travelling across borders.

"Greater security with more efficient trade benefits every APEC economy.

"High-end technology products through to consumer products and agricultural produce are vital export sectors for most of the Asia-Pacific region.

"Increasingly stringent port processing procedures that are not operating at full efficiency could incur additional transaction expenses for exporters through delays and lost opportunities.

"The STAR Initiative is an ongoing process to develop measures to achieve the twin APEC goals of increased security against terrorism along with the more efficient flow of goods, services and people across borders.

Ambassador Milintachinda said there will be significant discussions on implementing capacity building programmes to achieve STAR objectives in developing economies.

"Participation of leading international organisations will bring significant depth of knowledge and experience to the STAR conference," said Ambassador Milintachinda.

"The Asian Development Bank, the World Bank, the International Maritime Organisation, the World Customs Organisation, the International Civil Aviation Organisation and the International Air Transport Association are all making presentations at the STAR conference."

Co-hosted by Thailand and the United States, the STAR Conference will be attended by representatives of all 21 APEC economies and the private sector covering a range of transport and trade issues.

"Issues high on the agenda at the STAR Conference include the provision of cargo and passenger details before they leave the port of embarkation," said Ambassador Milintachinda.

"A programme to assure container security while in transit and to identify high-risk containers will be discussed.

"Procedures for the provision of advance electronic information on container content to customs, port and shipping officials, screening arriving ships and port employee security will also be the subject of two rounds of maritime security discussions.

"Improvements to regional air safety will be the focus of two roundtable discussions.

"The aviation security roundtable will identify areas of airport and aircraft security that impact on the efficient movement of goods, services and people in the APEC region.

"The introduction of effective baggage screening equipment and procedures, standards for reinforced flight deck doors, and mandatory aviation security audits will be topics for discussion at the STAR Conference.

"The supply chain security roundtable will explore what the private sector can do to help ensure the integrity of trade items from the point of manufacture to the port of final destination.

"The roundtable discussion on project planning and finance is designed to help APEC developing economies in identifying sources of possible funding and procedures for assessing their needs and designing projects.

"As stated by APEC Leaders during their last two meetings in Mexico and China, terrorism is a direct challenge to APEC's goals of free, open and prosperous economies.

"APEC economies are united in the determination to end the threat that terrorism poses to our shared goals of a more prosperous Asia-Pacific Region."

Event: Conference on Secure Trade in the APEC Region (STAR)
Venue: Le Royal Meridien Hotel, Bangkok, Thailand.
Dates: 23-25 February 2003



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In the year 2004 Chile will host several meetings that will be attended by the 21 "economies" of the APEC (Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation) forum including the annual Leaders summit. This intergovernmental consultative forum includes most of the economies of both shores of the Pacific, a region of dynamic growth and expanded trade. APEC represents approximately 50% of the world-wide GDP, more than 47% of the global commerce and almost has half of the population of the globe. Around 55% of the Chilean exports are directed to the members of the APEC. Of Chile's 15 largest markets, seven are APEC economies and represent 87% of our exports.

By the end of the 1980's, the largest economies of the world had shown a strong interest in extending their markets. The European Community announced a single market, while the U.S.A. and its neighbors were looking at possibility of establishing a free trade area. The Asian and oceanic economies (New Zealand and Australia), worried that these agreements represented barriers for the trade of their products, met in Canberra, in 1989, as an initiative of prime minister of Australia, Bob Hawke. This was the first official forum of the 12 economies of APEC. In the nine following years, a further nine economies joined APEC including Chile it in 1994.

In the 1991 summit, hosted by Seoul, the objectives of APEC were established as:

To maintain regional economic growth and development with the goal of contributing to the growth and development of the world economy.

To accentuate the regional and international gains derived from increasing economic interdependence through the flow of goods, services, capital and technology.

To develop and fortify the system of multilateral commerce that is in the interest of all the economies of Asia Pacific.

To reduce trade barriers for goods, services and investment between APEC members. These are what has become known as the "Three Pillars of APEC." The liberalization of commerce and investment; the facilitation of commerce and investment, and economic and technical cooperation.

The meetings between government minister and officials, and the annual meeting of the leaders of all APEC economies are the most important elements of the APEC process. They allow a flexible and informal dialogue that facilitates agreements and understandings. APEC has become a very valuable community for Chile, as we open our borders to global trade.

The periodic meetings have importance for ministers from each of the diverse APEC economies come together as part of a complex network of shared interests. There is special importance in the annual meeting of Finance Ministers to which the highest representatives of regional finance ministries meet. The officials given the task of implementing the APEC process are the senior public officials from each economy who implement the instructions endorsed at the annual Leaders Meeting and the ministerial meetings. These senior public officials coordinate APEC related tasks in each economy. Coordination and representation of Chile in the APEC process is the responsibility of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

A permanent APEC Secretariat with a small number of professionals is based in Singapore. This serves as an information exchange centre and support facility for the different APEC forums. Management of the APEC Secretariat is the responsibility of the Executive Director and the Deputy Executive Director. Both positions are appointed by the member economy that will host of the Summit of the current year and the economy that will be host in the following year.

An important APEC body is the private enterprise consultative forum of APEC called the APEC Business Advisory Council or ABAC. This is made up of three leading business people from each member economy. ABAC is a demonstration of the interest APEC leaders place in creating an effective avenue for cooperation with the business community in the interregional process.

As an intergovernmental consultative forum APEC is a new model of international cooperation. Flexibility and informality are two of APEC's fundamental characteristics as decisions are adopted by consensus. Some observers define APEC as an intergovernmental mechanism directed to fortify commercial liberalization and investments in the region Asia Pacific. Others identify APEC as a process by which the concept of a regional "community" of the economies can be established. In Bogor, Indonesia, an agreement was reached to establish free and open trade and investment by 2010 for industrialized economies and by 2020 for developing economies. In Summits at Osaka and Manila in the years after Bogor, agreements were adopted in which the process of liberalization would be overseen through "coordinated operations" and through individual action and collective plans. In the process of its progressive elimination, Chile made a series of commitments that includes: a unilateral reduction of tariffs to 0% by year 2010; reciprocal and balanced conditions for trade in most of products; the detailed and transparent description of the restrictions that face service and investment restrictions in Chile; and, the provisions of clear descriptions of the existing non-tariff measures in place in Chile.

Chile will face a great challenge in 2004 as the host of some of the most important and dynamic economies in our region. After having successfully completed negotiations with the EU and the U.S.A., our eyes must go through the Pacific to these partners in APEC, with which we have been creating an increasing community in the last eight years. That challenge falls on numerous organizations, both public and private sectors, to coordinate activities in order to present our best face.



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Monday, 24 February

OPENING SESSION (8:30AM - 10:30AM)

Moderator:

Mr. Geoff Jackson, Regional Director for Asia, U.S. Trade and Development Agency

Honorable Darryl N. Johnson, U.S. Ambassador to Thailand

Honorable Tej Bunnag, Permanent Secretary of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Thailand

Keynote Remarks:

Ambassador Piamsak Milintachinda, Executive Director, APEC Secretariat on APEC's Counter-Terrorism Action Plan

Honorable Larry Greenwood, U.S. Ambassador to APEC on Implementing STAR

MARITIME SECURITY ROUND TABLE I - SECURE PORTS

Moderator:

Mr. Marc Grégoire, Associate Assistant Deputy Minister, Safety and Security Group, Transport Canada

Speakers:

Mr. Tom Allan, Chairman, Maritime Safety Committee, International Maritime Organization

Ms. Tipsuda Charavejasarn, Principal Advisor on Water Transport Economics, Thailand

Mr. Peter Yuile, Deputy Secretary, Department of Transport and Regional Services, Australia

VAdm Rodolfo Codina, General Director of the Maritime Territory and Merchant Marine, Chile

PASSENGER PROCESSING ROUND TABLE - PASSENGER PROCESSING

Moderator:

Mr. Philip Yung, Deputy Director-General of Trade and Industry, Hong Kong, China

Speakers:

Mr. John Moorhouse, First Assistant Secretary, Border Compliance and Control Division, Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs, Australia

Mr. Joseph Greene, Executive Director for Support Operations, U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service

Ms. Gail Batman, National Director, Border Intelligence and Passengers, Australian Customs Service

MONDAY LUNCHEON

Speaker:

Mr. Eduardo Aguirre, Vice Chairman & Chief Operating Officer, U.S. Export-Import Bank

MARITIME SECURITY ROUND TABLE II - CONTAINER SECURITY

Moderator:

Official, U.S. Customs Service

Speakers:

Mr. Douglas Browning, Deputy Commissioner, US Customs Service

Mr. Jouko Lempiainen, Director, Compliance and Facilitation, World Customs Organization

Mr. Tom Allan, Chairman, Maritime Safety Committee, International Maritime Organization

AVIATION SECURITY ROUND TABLE I - AIRPORT AND AIRCRAFT SAFETY

Moderator:

Mr. Wang Xiaolong, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, People's Republic of China

Speakers:

Mr. Daniel Furlong, Assistant Director Asia Pacific/Canada, U.S. Transportation Security Administration

International Civil Aviation Organization (Invited)

Mr. Sang-soo Kim, Assistant Director, Aviation Safety Division, Ministry of Construction and Transportation, Republic of Korea

Mr. Song Shengli, Deputy Director General, Department of Public Security, Civil Aviation of China (CAAC)

Tuesday, February 25

TECHNOLOGY ROUND TABLE

Moderator:

Mr. Tim Neely, APEC STAR Coordinator, U.S. Department of State

Speakers:

Mr. Joseph P. Holewa, Vice President and Country Manager (Thailand), Raytheon International, Inc.

Mr. Stephen Breen, Director, Business Development, Portnet.com/PSA

Mr. Gunasekharan Chellappan, Industry Solutions Director, ORACLE

Dr. Doug Brown, Head of Technical Marketing, Rapiscan and Ancore Cargo Inspection Products

AVIATION SECURITY ROUND TABLE II

Moderator:

Mr. Theodore Davies, Director, International Affairs, U.S. Federal Aviation Administration

Speakers:

Mr. Oliver Yu, Administrative Vice Minister, Ministry of Transportation and Communications, Chinese Taipei (Invited)

Mr. Geoff Askew, Security Group General Manager, Qantas Airways; and Chairman, International Air Transport Association Security Committee

Mr.Pricha Sukchai, Director of Aviation Security & Safety Department, Thai Airways

CAPACITY BUILDING

Moderator:

Mr. Budi Darmadi, Director for Good and Services Supervisory, Directorate for Good and Services Supervisory, Directorate General for Domestic Trade, Department for Industry and Trade, Indonesia

Speakers:

Mr. Bruce Bennett, APEC Secretariat on Planned APEC Secure/Efficient Trade Capacity Building Programs

Mr. Robert Lees, Executive Advisor, Asia Pacific, BearingPoint

Mr. Geoff Jackson, Assistant to the Director for Policy Planning, U.S. Trade and Development Agency on Capacity Building Programs for Transportation Security Projects

Mr. Kenichi Bessho, Deputy Director, International Counter-Terrorism Cooperation Division, Foreign Policy Bureau, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Japan

TUESDAY LUNCHEON

Speaker:

Mr. Stephen J. McHale, Deputy Administrator, U.S. Transportation Security Administration

PROJECT PLANNING AND FINANCING

Moderator:

Mr. Mark Dunn, Country Manager, U.S. Trade & Development Agency

Speakers:

Speaker, Asian Development Bank (Invited)

Mr. Jitendra N. Bajpai, Sector Director, Transport Unit, East Asia and Pacific Region, World Bank

Mr. Eduardo Aguirre, Vice Chairman & Chief Operating Officer, U.S. Export-Import Bank

SUPPLY CHAIN SECURITY

Moderator:

Mrs. Delia D. Albert, Undersecretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Philippines

Speakers:

Ms. Mayra Hernandez, President, World BASC Organization

Ms. Patrice Knight, Vice President, Import Compliance Office, IBM

Mr. Stephen J. McHale, Deputy Administrator, U.S. Transportation Security Administration

Mr. John Kok, Chief Strategy Officer, LINe - Logistics Information Network Enterprise Limited, A member of the Hutchison Port Holdings Group

Mr. Simon Stannard, Security Services Group Head, Kroll Associates (Asia), Pte. Ltd.

CONCLUSION (5:00PM - 5:45PM)

Live audio Webcast sponsored by Bearing Point (Formerly KPMG Consulting): www.worlductx.com/apecstarconference/

Moderator:

Honorable Larry Greenwood, U.S. Ambassador to APEC

Conference Venue:

Le Royal Meridien Hotel
973 Ploenchit Road, Bangkok,10330 Thailand
Tel: (66 2) 656 0444 
Fax: (66 2) 656-0555
APEC Secretariat: Ext. 6849



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Representatives from APEC's 21 member economies, the private sector and international organizations are meeting in Bangkok, Thailand, from February 23 to 25 for the Secure Trade in the APEC Region (STAR) Conference.

The STAR Conference is an important forum in APEC's efforts to reduce the negative impact of terrorism on the regional economy while at the same time increasing the efficiency of cargo handling and the movement of people.

Representatives from media organizations are invited to attend the opening and conclusion of the STAR Conference. There is a scheduled photo opportunity at the start of the conference and a media conference at the conference conclusion.

Audio from the concluding session of the STAR Conference and the following Media Conference will be Webcast live at: www.worlductx.com/apecstarconference/

The audio Webcast, sponsored by Bearing Point (Formerly KPMG Consulting), will begin at 5pm on Tuesday, Bangkok local time (USA East Coast - Tuesday 5am; London - Tuesday 10am; Sydney - Tuesday 9pm)

Individual interviews with experts and guest speakers attending the STAR Conference will be arranged in person or via telephone.

A full list of presenters attending the STAR Conference is included with this alert.

Scheduled Media events:

Monday, 24 February

8:00am - 8:30am     Photo opportunity  
8:30am - 10:30am   Opening session including keynote speeches 

Tuesday, 25 February

5:00pm - 5:45pm     Conference Conclusion (Live Audio Webcast)  
5:45pm - 6:30pm     Media Conference â€" Speakers TBA (Live Audio Webcast) 

Conference Venue:

Le Royal Meridien Hotel
973 Ploenchit Road, Bangkok, 10330 Thailand
Tel: (66 2) 656 0444 
Fax: (66 2) 656 0555

APEC Secretariat: Ext. 6849



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At their first meeting for 2003, APEC Senior Officials have endorsed the establishment of a Counter-Terrorism Task Force to facilitate the implementation of joint measures to protect key APEC infrastructure from terrorist attack.

The Executive Director of the APEC Secretariat, Ambassador Piamsak Milintachinda, said the link between terrorism and trade has increasingly involved APEC in the development of counter-terrorism issues.

"Due to its impact on the regional trading and economic environment, APEC has become increasingly prominent in developing ways to counter terrorism while facilitating trade," said Ambassador Milintachinda.

"Counter terrorism measures should also be seen as an investment that will pay future dividends through reduced risk premiums and increased trade efficiency."

The Counter-Terrorism Task Force is expected to coordinate the implementation of the Leaders' Statement on Fighting Terrorism and Promoting Growth by assisting economies to:

Access resources and information required for counter-terrorism

Co-ordinate capacity building and technical assistance programs

Cooperate with other international organisations in counter-terrorism issues

Facilitate cooperation between APEC fora on counter-terrorism issues.

Specific areas include protecting cargoes and ships engaged in international voyages, protecting international aviation, protecting people in transit as well as halting the financing of terrorism.

The Counter-Terrorism Task Force will also be active in promoting cyber security, energy security and the security of the food and water supply and other infrastructure in o of our communities.

Ambassador Milintachinda said APEC is also working to strengthen the technological capacity of all APEC economies to implement the action plan.

"APEC is committed to assessing the needs of economies and providing effective capacity building programs and to ensure they can successfully implement the Action Plan," said Ambassador Milintachinda.

"It is essential that APEC economies adopt new technologies to both strengthen security and facilitate trade."

The Secure Trade in the APEC Region (STAR) Conference, starting Monday in Bangkok, is a key part of APEC efforts to reduce the cost of terrorism and to increase the efficiency of cargo handling and the movement of people.

Ways in which investment in counter terrorism measures can also serve as a means to facilitate more efficient trade will be discussed at the conference.

"One example of counter terrorism measures resulting in a reduction of transaction costs is the US Customs' Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) project.

"The ACE project will save US importers US$22.2 billion in costs over 20 years and save the US government US$4.4 billion in administrative costs over the same period.

"The ACE project replaces paper documents with electronic messaging and sophisticated software to identify containers that are high risk. This ensures these high risk containers are checked while low risk cargo is able to be processed more rapidly.

"As a result business saves on documentation and law enforcement resources can be targeted more efficiently," said Ambassador Milintachinda.

APEC's efforts in the area of counter terrorism and secure trade will be reported at the upcoming Special Conference on Combating Terrorism being organised by the United Nations Security Council's Counter Terrorism Committee in New York on 7 March 2003.



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A study on the costs of terrorism has been circulated at the Secure Trade in the APEC Region (STAR) Conference in Bangkok.

'The Costs of Terrorism and the Benefits of Cooperating to Combat Terrorism' highlights the serious economic consequences of not acting to prevent terrorism. The study also provides examples of cost estimates of specific terrorist attacks.

The study, prepared by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, drew on historical evidence and economic figures that have emerged in recent years of heightened terrorist concerns.

Keep points of the report include:

Evaluating previous patterns, the study drew on evidence of over 200 countries from 1968 to 1979 in which there was a doubling of the number of terrorist incidents. This resulted in a decrease in bilateral trade between the economies targeted by terrorism of around 6 per cent.

Following the Bali bombing Indonesia tourist arrivals fell 2.2 per cent in 2002, and resulted in a loss of about 1 per cent of Indonesia's GDP.

Heightened terrorism in Spain and Greece reduced average annual net FDI inflows by more than 10 per cent between 1975 and 1991.

The loss of US output resulting from terrorism related costs could be as high as 0.75 per cent of GDP or US$75 billion per year. This cost plays off directly against the hard won gains of trade liberalization which in the United States is more than the 0.4 to 0.6 per cent annual increase in GDP from the Uruguay Round.

The costs of terrorism are likely to be felt more by developing economies because of their relatively greater dependence on foreign trade and foreign direct investment inflows. At the same time, cargo and vessels traveling to and from developing economies could also be subject to higher insurance premiums.

The full report is available at: www.apecsec.org.sg/media



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APEC has succeeded in bringing together key players from a broad range of official agencies and leading companies for the first time into a cooperative partnership to enhance trade and security in the Asia-Pacific region.

The Secure Trade in the APEC Region (STAR) Conference concluded in Bangkok today after two days of focusing on issues such as port security, maritime security, aviation security and other areas related to improving secure trade.

The Conference was attended by 337 delegates, over a hundred more than originally expected, from all 21 member economies as well as senior representatives from major private sector corporations and international organizations such as the IMO, WCO and the World Bank.

Co-hosted by the United States and Thailand, the conference highlighted a range of programs intended to look at the secure the movement of goods and people in the APEC region. These included:

Trials of passenger screening using facial recognition technology

Enhanced security features of aircraft

Testing of procedures to respond to emergency situations at major airports and capacity building for ICAO security audits

Advanced electronics and IT systems that can provide solutions to tracking, monitoring and identifying potential threats and protecting APEC communities

IT systems being used in some ports to seamlessly pass electronic information on cargoes between service providers such as pilots, tugs, freight forwarders, truckers, shippers, warehouse operators and government agencies

Mechanisms to share solutions between APEC economies.

One of the major points of agreement among presenters and delegates was that STAR requires new partnerships between government and business.

Co-ordination between public and private entities at the national and international level is necessary to counteract terrorist or criminal threats throughout the supply chain.

Most importantly, law enforcement and trade facilitation complement one another, as measures to increase security have the added benefit of increasing efficiency.

Capacity building, in particular the need to strengthen the institutional capacity of governments, was cited as being important to the success of the program. To achieve this end the Vice Chairman of the US Export-Import Bank said that financing would be available for developing economies with transportation security projects.

APEC is taking steps to ensure that the needs of developing economies to implement STAR are met with targeted technical cooperation assistance.

It is anticipated that the recently established APEC Counter Terrorism Task Force will help to ensure that activities are coordinated with of bilateral and international organizations such as the IMO, WCO and World Bank.

A research paper, prepared by Australia, was also circulated that highlights the serious economic consequences of not acting to prevent terrorism.

'The Costs of Terrorism and the Benefits of Cooperating to Combat Terrorism' study provides several examples of cost estimates of specific terrorist attacks.

In summary, the conference agreed that APEC's goal is both to facilitate trade and to strengthen security for member economies.

Investment in security is anticipated to result in significant economic returns, not only by reducing the economic costs of terrorism but by facilitating the movement of goods and people.



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The APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC), the private sector arm of the APEC Forum, just completed its first meeting of 2003, 3-5 March, in Lima, Peru. In the course of laying out its work plan for the year, ABAC expressed its deep concern over the current global economic outlook.

ABAC's believes that the global economic situation is more daunting than when ABAC last met in Los Cabos, Mexico in October 2002. Growth prospects have slipped, business confidence fallen, and investment has slowed throughout the Asia-Pacific region and beyond.

Real economic growth can only occur with an expanding business commitment in investment, employment and trade; the deterioration throughout APEC of the key economic indicators needs urgent attention from the APEC Leaders.

ABAC believes this situation can be reversed if, among other things, the APEC Leaders vigorously promote free, open and fair trade in the APEC region; enhance security in ways that continue to allow the free flows of goods and people; and confront critical challenges in corporate governance and transparency.

ABAC's deliberations in Lima were opened by strong remarks by Alejandro Toledo, President of Peru, who asserted his commitment to attracting investment, promoting economic growth and reducing poverty. President Toledo also hosted ABAC members, legislators, diplomats and business leaders at a gala dinner at the Presidential Palace.

ABAC's work during the year is to draft and finalize the text of its Report to APEC Economic Leaders. The five bodies set up within ABAC this year to develop the priorities are working groups on financial stability, trade and investment liberalization, trade and business facilitation, capacity building as well as an Action Plan Monitoring Committee.

Although these working groups will continue to refine their proposals over the course of this year, they set the broad parameters of their work at this meeting in Lima.

The working group on financial stability explored the impact of the new security environment on business and financial systems. It also targeted the severely undercapitalized reinsurance market and considered steps to improve corporate governance and transparency, as well as further strengthen financial, including capital, markets.

The trade and investment liberalization working group set priorities to move ahead the Doha Development Agenda, especially in agriculture and services; discussed transportation liberalization and facilitation; and reviewed the relationships between regional and bilateral free trade agreements and the WTO/APEC approaches.

The trade and business facilitation working group discussed security as it affects facilitation and energy security. It also explored strengthening intellectual property rights protections in a number of different areas and planned how to address new European Union regulations affecting all chemical products, products found in virtually every industry.

Under capacity building, recommendations will focus on cooperation with other ABAC working groups and other capacity work that cuts across APEC such as SME development, building critical infrastructure and establishing recycling-based economies. The group also discussed how to strengthen institutions for capital markets; enhance organizations through improved corporate governance; and build human capital for executives and professionals.

The final working group is charged with monitoring APEC's Individual Action Plans, the key tool for tracking trade liberalization and facilitation progress by APEC members. This group will support the mid-term review of APEC's free trade and investment goals, seek to promote greater progress in agricultural issues, and continue to push for more accountability from APEC on past recommendations from ABAC.

ABAC is chaired this year by Dr. Viphandh Roengpithya, President, Asian University of Science and Technology of Bangkok, Thailand.

ABAC comprises up to three senior business representatives from each of APEC's 21 member economies appointed by their respective heads of economy to advise APEC Economic Leaders and Ministers on issues affecting business.

As in the past years, ABAC's final report will recommend ways to improve business and investment in the APEC region and to help ensure that all in the region enjoy the benefits of globalization. In addition, ABAC will provide a pre-report highlighting some urgent recommendations ABAC would like to see action on and which will be delivered to APEC Ministers Responsible for Trade, who will meet in June in Thailand.



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The first APEC Senior Officials' Meeting (SOM 1) opened 27 February 2002 in Mexico City, marking the official start of Mexico's year as host economy for APEC.

This year Mexico will be hosting more than 100 APEC Meetings including Ministerial meetings on Trade, Finance, Energy, Tourism, Small and Medium Enterprises, Gender Integration, APEC Business Advisory Council, the CEO's Summit, the joint meeting of Foreign and Trade Ministers and the annual APEC Leaders' Meeting.

The First APEC Senior Officials' Meeting taking place 27-28 February 2002 provides overall coordination and direction for this year's APEC process. The task of Senior Officials is to implement the directives of Leaders and Ministers as agreed in Shanghai in October 2001. Senior Officials oversee and coordinate the budgets and annual work programmes of APEC.

The SOM I Meeting in Mexico City has been preceded by a series of meetings of APEC committees and working groups including the Committee on Trade and Investment (and its sub-committees on Customs Procedures, Standards and Conformance and Groups on Services and Market Access); the Economic Committee; the Sub-Committee on Economic and Technical Cooperation; WTO Capacity Building Group; Advisory Group on Gender Integration; E-Commerce Steering Group and the e-APEC Taskforce amongst others. The Chairs of all APEC Committees and Working Groups will attend a Joint Fora Meeting on 1 March.

For 2002, the work programmes of APEC Committees, Working Groups and other fora will include a focus on the following priorities established for the year by Mexico as host economy:

- Implementation of policies on trade, investment and finance to promote economic growth and extract gains from the New Economy;
- Capacity building to obtain benefits from development through the promotion of micro, small and medium sized enterprises;
- Strengthening APEC's international relevance by encouraging greater participation of youth and women, intensifying efforts to promote the benefits of globalization and improving the functioning of APEC.

The SOM I meeting is being chaired by Mr Gerardo Tralosheros, General Director of Multilateral Trade Affairs for the Mexican Secretary of Economy. Mexico will also be hosting APEC SOM II and related meetings in Merida, 17-25 May 2002 and APEC SOM III and associated meetings in Acapulco, 13-21 August 2002.

Further details relating to Mexico's year as host for APEC may be found on www.apec2002.org.mx



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The APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC), the private sector arm of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum (APEC), will hold its second meeting of 2002 in Sydney, 12-15 May.

This will be the second ABAC meeting of APEC's Mexico Year, when Mexico will host the meeting of APEC Economic Leaders in Los Cabos, Baja California Sur in the month of October. ABAC's theme for this year is "Sharing Development to Reinforce Global Security". During the course of their meeting in Sydney, ABAC members will have the opportunity to meet top leaders of government and business in Australia. In conjunction with the ABAC meeting, there will also be a joint ABAC-Pacific Economic Cooperation Symposium on Risk Management, Pricing and Capital Provisioning to be held at the head offices of the Commonwealth Bank of Australia on 16-17 May.

ABAC comprises up to three senior business representatives from each of APEC's 21 member economies appointed by their respective heads of economy to advise APEC Economic Leaders and Ministers on issues affecting business. The Council is chaired this year by Mr. Javier Prieto de la Fuente, Senior Vice President of External Affairs of the CEMEX Group. ABAC's work during the year will be to draft and finalize the text of its Report to APEC Economic Leaders. The five bodies set up within ABAC this year that will develop the priorities are task forces on finance, small and medium enterprises, business facilitation, and technology as well as an Action Plan Monitoring Committee.

In a change from the practices of past years, ABAC will be presenting a pre-report to the APEC Ministers Responsible for Trade, who will meet in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico 29-30 May. The pre-report will also be submitted to other APEC Ministers as it will contain other issues that are not directly trade-related. This pre-report is intended to brief Ministers on the ABAC priorities that require immediate implementation.

As in the past years, ABAC will develop a final report that will contain recommendations on ways to improve business and investment in the APEC region and to help ensure that all in the region enjoy the benefits of globalization. ABAC members will present ABAC's recommendations to APEC Economic Leaders when they meet in Los Cabos, Baja California Sur, October 26-27.

Press Arrangements and Contacts

Mr. Prieto along with the Taskforce and Committee Chairs and co-Chairs will hold a press conference to report on the outcomes of the meeting at 11:15 a.m. Wednesday, 15 May in the Holmes Room, Level 1 of the Regent Hotel, located at 199 George St., Sydney, NSW 2000, Australia (Tel: 61 2 9238-0000; Fax: 61 2 9251-2851; E-mail: regent.sydney@fourseasons.com ). Representatives from print and electronic media outlets are invited to attend. In addition, television cameras will be allowed to film the opening moments of the first ABAC plenary session at 08:30 a.m. on Monday, 13 May in Ballroom 1, Level 1, of the Regent Hotel.

Requests for interviews with individual ABAC members may be directed to the contacts below.

ABAC's 2001 Report to APEC Leaders is available on the ABAC and APEC websites:

http://abaconline and http://apecsec.org.sg

Additional background information about ABAC is already available at that site. To order a bound volume of the ABAC Report, contact Mr. Luz as indicated below.



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The APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC), the private sector arm of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum (APEC), just completed its second meeting of 2002 in Sydney, 12-15 May.

This was the second ABAC meeting of APEC's Mexico Year, during which Mexico will host the meeting of APEC Economic Leaders in Los Cabos, Baja California Sur in October. ABAC's theme for this year is "Sharing Development to Reinforce Global Security". During the course of their meeting in Sydney, ABAC members met with top leaders of government and business in Australia, including with the Governor General, the Prime Minister, the Foreign Minister and the Premier of New South Wales.

Prime Minister John Howard highlighted his strong support for APEC and ABAC, terming last year's APEC Leaders' Meeting in Shanghai one of the most important meetings he attended during his time as Prime Minister. Foreign Minister Alexander Downer stressed Australia's support for APEC as a means to build a strong Asia-Pacific community of economies and as a driver of economic reform. NSW Premier Bob Carr emphasized the benefit of openness for growth and change.

In conjunction with the ABAC meeting, ABAC members will also hold a joint symposium with the Pacific Economic Cooperation Council on risk management, pricing and capital provisioning. The discussions will include a dinner where the Hon. Ian Campbell, Parliametary Secretary to the Treasurer, will be the keynote speaker.

ABAC comprises up to three senior business representatives from each of APEC's 21 member economies appointed by their respective heads of economy to advise APEC Economic Leaders and Ministers on issues affecting business. The Council is chaired this year by Mr. Javier Prieto de la Fuente, Senior Vice President of External Affairs of the CEMEX Group of Mexico. ABAC's work during the year will be to draft and finalize the text of its Report to APEC Economic Leaders.

As in the past years, ABAC's Report to APEC Leaders will contain recommendations on ways to improve business and investment in the APEC region and to help ensure that all in the region enjoy the benefits of globalization. ABAC members will present ABAC's recommendations to APEC Economic Leaders when they meet them in Los Cabos, Baja California Sur, October 26.

At its Sydney meeting, ABAC refined their recommendations through working groups in technology, finance, business facilitation, small and medium enterprises, and monitoring APEC's Individual Action Plans (IAPs) (These IAPs detail how each APEC member plans to meet the liberalization goals agreed to by APEC Leaders to established free trade in developed APEC economies by 2010 and throughout all of APEC by 2020.)

Although the Report to APEC Leaders will be finalized in a subsequent meeting, at the Sydney meeting ABAC set the general framework for these recommendations. Two themes cut across the discussions of nearly all of the working groups. The first was the need to craft responses to the Leaders calls at their meeting last October in Shanghai to fight terrorism. Accordingly, ABAC will develop a range of recommendations on enhancing security and sharing development while simultaneously ensuring that APEC continues its work in facilitating trade and investment flows throughout the Asia-Pacific.

In the second theme, ABAC reviewed all the recommendations it has made to APEC Leaders over the past five years. In ABAC's view, some recommendations have yet to be addressed by APEC. During the remainder of this year, ABAC intends to press APEC to implement those recommendations that can be accomplished or initiated this year. As part of this campaign, ABAC will provide a pre-report to the APEC Ministers Responsible for Trade meeting in Mexico in late May as well as to other, later meetings of APEC Ministers. This paper, finalized here at the Sydney meeting, will help ensure that APEC has the opportunity to incorporate ABAC's views into the policy-making process prior to the October Leaders' Meeting itself, when ABAC presents its final Report to Leaders.

ABAC in Sydney worked on a variety of specific issues that will be refined into recommendations by the next ABAC meeting in August. In finance, they include strengthening the security of financial systems, responding to the withdrawal of insurance coverage in the wake of last year's terrorist attacks in the U.S., micro-financing and other financing for small and medium enterprises, and improving corporate governance. The technology group worked on security and customs issues, e-government and e-commerce, and on biotechnology. In business facilitation, work focused on APEC's Food System initiatives, its work in standards and conformance, including promoting mutual recognition arrangements, preventing the growing use of Non-tariff Trade Measures and the misuse of Anti-Dumping Measures, and on supporting the Doha Development Round WTO Trade talks. The SME group worked with several of the other groups on financing for SMEs, promoting SME access to technology and creating an enabling policy environment. Finally, the group monitoring APEC's Action Plans emphasized increasing APEC's responsiveness to earlier ABAC recommendations and on confronting non-tariff measures.

ABAC's 2001 Report to APEC Leaders is available on the ABAC and APEC websites:

http://abaconline.org and http://publications.apec.org

Additional background information about ABAC is already available at that site. To order a bound volume of the ABAC Report, contact Mr. Basilio as indicated below.



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The APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC), the private sector arm of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum (APEC), will hold its third meeting of 2002 in Hong Kong, China, 7-10 August.

This will be the third ABAC meeting of APEC's Mexico Year, when Mexico hosts the meeting of APEC Economic Leaders in Los Cabos, Baja California Sur in October. ABAC's theme for the year is "Sharing Development to Reinforce Global Security". During the course of their meeting in Sydney, ABAC members will have the opportunity to meet top leaders of government and business in Hong Kong, China. In conjunction with the ABAC meeting, there will also be a business conference on the development of Small and Medium Enterprises on 9 August.

ABAC comprises up to three senior business representatives from each of APEC's 21 member economies appointed by their respective heads of economy to advise APEC Economic Leaders and Ministers on issues affecting business. The Council is chaired this year by Mr. Javier Prieto de la Fuente, Senior Vice President of External Affairs of the CEMEX Group. ABAC's work during the year will be to draft and finalize the text of its Report to APEC Economic Leaders. The five bodies set up within ABAC this year that are developing the priorities are task forces on finance, small and medium enterprises, business facilitation, and technology as well as an Action Plan Monitoring Committee.

As in the past years, ABAC is developing a final report that will contain recommendations on ways to improve business and investment in the APEC region and to help ensure that all in the region enjoy the benefits of globalization. ABAC members will present ABAC's recommendations to APEC Economic Leaders when they meet in Los Cabos, Baja California Sur, October 26-27. It is the task of this meeting in Hong Kong to develop the final draft of these recommendations and to prepare for the ABAC Dialogue with the APEC Leaders in Los Cabos.

In a change from the practices of past years, ABAC this year is presenting a pre-report to APEC Ministers, including to the Ministers Responsible for Trade and Ministers for tourism, energy, small and medium enterprises, and finance. This pre-report briefs Ministers on the ABAC priorities that require immediate implementation.

Press Arrangements and Contacts

Mr. Prieto along with the Taskforce and Committee Chairs and co-Chairs will hold a press conference to report on the outcomes of the meeting at 11:45 a.m.-12:15 p.m., Saturday, 10 August, in Room 605, Level 6 of the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, 1 Harbour Road, Wanchai, Hong Kong (Tel: 852-2588-1234; Fax: 852-2802-0677; E-mail: info@hongkong.hyatt.com.hk). Representatives from print and electronic media outlets are invited to attend. In addition, television cameras will be allowed to film the opening moments of the first ABAC plenary session at 09:00 a.m. on Thursday, 8 August, in Room 601, Level 6 of the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre.

Requests for interviews with individual ABAC members may be directed to the contacts below.

ABAC's 2001 Report to APEC Leaders is available on the ABAC and APEC websites:

http://abaconline.org and http://publications.apec.org

Additional background information about ABAC is already available at that site. To order a bound volume of the ABAC Report, contact Mr. Basilio as indicated below.



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