Singapore's participation in APEC is crucial in that it serves both strategic and economic purposes.

Strategic: It is in Singapore's interest to actively engage the major powers in the region like the US and China, and APEC is the only global organization where both economies are active participants

Economic: APEC also provides a platform for cooperation among member economies to achieve economic liberalization and integration, and serves as complimentary to the ASEAN and WTO processes.

ABAC is the only private sector group that is officially part of the APEC Leader's agenda at the annual Summit. It acts as a feedback channel where the views of the business community on issues pertaining to trade and investment are made known to the economic leaders. Singapore's interests are represented at ABAC by Mr. Teng Theng Dar, Ms. Chong Siak Ching and Mr. Tang Kin Fei.