10 November 2011 - Asia Pacific businesses urge TPP leaders to commit to conclusion of
     comprehensive, high-standard TPP in 2012

10 November 2011 - Asia-Pacific Business to APEC Leaders: 'Accelerate Growth, Create Jobs,
     Aim for Long-Term'

26 August 2011 - Together We Stand: APEC Business Leaders Urge Greater Government
     Collaboration to Address Economic Woes

28 April 2011 - APEC Business Leaders Call for Action to Support SMEs and Boost FDI year

18 February 2011 - APEC Business Advisory Council seeks to boost commerce, support economic
     growth and job creation during U.S. APEC host year

25 January 2011 - New APEC investment guide to promote transparency

10 November 2011

Asia Pacific businesses urge TPP leaders to commit to conclusion of comprehensive, high-standard TPP in 2012

Business organisations from across the Asia Pacific region expressed strong support for the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) negotiations and urged TPP Leaders to reaffirm their countries’ commitment to a comprehensive, highstandard and ambitious TPP, with the goal of concluding negotiations in the first half of 2012.

“TPP’s promise as an economic growth catalyst and as a pathfinder to APEC’s goal of a Free Trade Area of the Asia Pacific (FTAAP) can be achieved with the strong commitment and vision of the TPP Leaders meeting here in Honolulu,” said Calman Cohen, President of the Emergency Committee for American Trade (ECAT). “As representatives of business organizations across the region, we urge each of the TPP Leaders to recommit to achieving a comprehensive, next generation agreement that will create concrete new economic opportunities for businesses and workers throughout all the TPP economies by eliminating distortive barriers, reducing business costs and raising standards.”

The business organisations – – ASIA PACIFIC Chamber of Commerce, COMEXPERU (The Foreign Trade Association of Peru), Emergency Committee for American Trade (ECAT), Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers (FMM), NCAPEC, NZ US Council, Singapore Business Federation (SBF), U.S. Business Coalition for TPP, U.S. Chamber of Commerce, US NZ Council, Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry -- call on the TPP Leaders meeting as part of the APEC Leaders’ Summit to not only announce the broad outlines of a comprehensive and high-standard agreement this week, but also to set an ambitious timetable for completion of these talks.

“To promote concrete new economic opportunities and sustainable economic development, TPP economies should not only reaffirm their commitment to achieve an ambitious and high-quality agreement that eliminates border and behind-the-border barriers, they must commit to do so in a realistic time frame,” said Stephen Jacobi, Executive Director of the NZ US Council. “For that reason, we urge the TPP Leaders to set an ambitious schedule for negotiations with the aim of concluding the agreement in the first half of 2012.”

The business organisations reaffirmed their strong support for a TPP that is:

• Comprehensive, with no product exclusions and with commercially meaningful and flexible rules of origin.
• High quality, with strong standards across all main areas, from transparency, investment and government procurement to intellectual property, e-commerce and sanitary and phytosanitary measures.
• Ambitious, with the elimination of tariffs and non-tariff barriers on trade in goods and services and investment no later than 2020, the deadline set for free and open trade and investment in the Bogor goals.
• Innovative, with concrete new commitments on new generation and behind the border issues, including eliminating chokepoints in the operation of regional supply and value chains, fostering small and mediumsized business participation in expanding trade, facilitating regulatory coherence, and promoting and protecting innovation.
• Enforceable, with clear commitments, and strong and transparent state-tostate and investor-to-state enforcement mechanisms.
• Living and open to accession by other Asia-Pacific economies, provided these economies share TPP’s ambitious vision and can demonstrate their ability to accede to an agreement with the characteristics described above.

“While recognizing the complexity of the work still ahead, we believe it is critical for the TPP economies to move forward on these negotiations expeditiously to help create much-needed economic opportunities for all of our economies as soon as possible,” said García Miró of COMEXPERU.

Mr. Ho Meng Kit, CEO of the Singapore Business Federation said, "In a period when uncertainty continues to surround the global economy, a positive outcome at the TPP Leaders’ meeting as part of the APEC Leaders’ Summit this weekend will instill tremendous confidence among the Asia-Pacific business community. The TPP will address the needs of today’s business practices of integrated supply chains and create an environment to ensure continued opportunities for sustained growth in the region.”

For further information

Calman Cohen, Emergency Committee for American Trade and U.S. Business Coalition for TPP, 202-294-5057

Francisco Garcés, Chairman, ASIA PACIFIC Chamber of Commerce, Chile +56-2- 244-4911

García Miró, Chairman, COMEXPERU, +51-992-758-002

Shamini Sakthinathan, Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers, +60-362-867-200

Matthew Doering, NCAPEC, 917-374-4369

Stephen Jacobi, Executive Director, NZ US Council, + 64-294-725-502

Martin Yuoon, Assistant Executive Director, SBF, mkhyuoon@sbf.org.sg

Catherine Mellor, U.S. Chamber of Commerce, 202-631-9952

John Mullen, President, United States-New Zealand Council, 202-842-0772

Nguyen Van Hai, Deputy Director General of International Relations, Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry,      hainv@vcci.com.vn




10 November 2011

Asia-Pacific Business to APEC Leaders: 'Accelerate Growth, Create Jobs, Aim for Long-Term'

[Honolulu, Hawaii] – The APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC) today announced that it will offer APEC Leaders a three-point plan to create the conditions for prosperity and sustainability. ABAC brings together business leaders from across the Asia-Pacific and held its final meeting for the year in the U.S. city of Honolulu, Hawaii ahead of a dialogue with 21 APEC Leaders on Sunday, during which they will highlight the priority issues for businesses in the region.

“Global economic growth is being hampered by strains on financial markets and the lack of progress in global rebalancing, resulting in high levels of debt and low growth. This situation has created disincentives for private sector investment and discontent among the general public,” ABAC Chair Deb Henretta said. “Our three-point plan aims to spur growth, create jobs and ensure more people across the region benefit.”

The ABAC plan calls for economies to increase access to finance for small-, medium- and micro-size enterprises, the engines of innovation and economic growth in the region. Taking APEC as a whole, SMEs make up roughly 90 percent of all businesses and employ nearly 60 percent of the work force, but they only account for around 30 percent of exports. Clearly, there is a need to implement policies that will enable SMEs to grow. ABAC sees access to finance as the top barrier to SME trade.

The plan further calls for APEC Leaders to ensure future trade agreements address emerging or “next generation” issues in the area of services, investment, innovation, supply chain and regulatory coherence among others. For instance, services play a critical role in the APEC economies, and are making a stronger contribution to overall growth than any other sector – making up more than 50 percent on average of APEC members’ GDP and generating more than 60 percent of jobs in the region especially for women and young people.

Amongst the “next generation” issues, improving supply chain efficiency has real impact for APEC economies. In a study commissioned for ABAC customs clearance, regulatory transparency, and infrastructure were assessed as the most significant barriers for business. ABAC wants APEC economies to be at the leading edge in the development of trade agreements that are relevant to the way business is done today. Action on these issues will put APEC in the best position to achieve a comprehensive and high quality Free Trade Area of the Asia Pacific.

Finally, the plan calls for APEC Leaders to commit to further measures to promote green growth. Options include addressing tariffs and non-tariff barriers in environmental goods and services (EGS), creating effective market-based mechanisms to improve access to green technologies, and sharing best practices among APEC members will facilitate greater technology and product diffusion. ABAC set an ambitious work agenda in 2011 and delivered strong results, including two policy partnerships with government and private sector participation, one to address food security and the other to promote the role of women in the economy. Further achievements include an update to APEC’s non-binding investment principles, development of a supply and value chain framework to guide regional economic integration, the establishment of the ABAC Women’s Forum and the completion of studies on investment, energy security, regulatory coherence, services and innovative growth.

About ABAC
ABAC brings together up to three business leaders from each of the APEC’s 21 economies. They are appointed by APEC Leaders to provide insight to the priorities and concerns of the business sector.

The fourth ABAC meeting was held from November 8 – 10 in Honolulu, Hawaii.

Editors’s note: For a link to the (a) Letter submitted to leaders or (b) a summary of 2011 ABAC deliverables go to https://www.abaconline.org/v4/download.php?ContentID=2609958.

For more information, please contact: www.abaconline.org
Mr. Alex Parle, ABAC Executive Director 2011, Tel: (1 206) 441 9022, Email: aparle@ncapec.org
Mr. Antonio Basilio, ABAC Secretariat, Tel: (63 2) 845 4564, Email: abacsec@pfgc.ph
Mr. Anh Tuan Tu, APEC Secretariat, Tel: (65) 6891 96496, Email: tat@apec.org




26 August 2011

Together We Stand: APEC Business Leaders Urge Greater Government Collaboration to Address Economic Woes
Issued by the APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC)

Lima, Peru - The APEC Business Advisory Council today called on APEC governments to collaborate more with the private sector to address the causes of the recent uncertainty in global financial markets. The current situation has created disincentives for private sector investment and risks rekindling protectionist sentiments.

"We are asking governments to work together and with their own business communities to develop plans to stimulate inclusive economic growth and create jobs in the short-term and work towards balanced growth in the long term with the ultimate objective of a Free Trade Area of the Asia Pacific" said ABAC Chair Deb Henretta.

Business leaders of the APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC) met in Lima this week to finalize their recommendations to be presented to APEC Economic Leaders and discussed in depth with them in Honolulu in November. At the meeting, ABAC Members expressed their concern about a potential rise in protectionist sentiments and asked Leaders to reconfirm their commitment to reject protectionist policies.

ABAC’s 2011 Report to Leaders focuses on regional economic integration, sustainable growth and small, medium and micro enterprises (SMME) as critical areas where the business community can help fulfill a vision of 21 economies working towards 21st Century prosperity.

For regional economic integration, ABAC has developed an integrated supply chain and value chain framework to help build understanding of the complex nature of global supply chains and to identify chokepoints obstructing the efficient flow of goods and services throughout the region. The disruptive impact of Japan´s devastating earthquake and tsunami in March highlights the highly integrated nature of the supply chain and the importance of business continuity preparedness.

ABAC has also identified next generation trade issues in areas such as competition policy, investment, services, government procurement and skilled labour shortages, and recommended key policy approaches for APEC governments to work towards regulatory coherence throughout the region.

Under the theme of sustainable growth, ABAC calls for collaborative action between the private sector and the public sector to address food security, as well as greater trade and cooperation for environmental goods and services. In addition, the Council finalized the Framework for Energy Security, which will serve as a source of recommendations and guidance to the region’s policy-makers.

Fostering a strong business environment for SMMEs is vital for growth and job creation in all economies. ABAC is leading capacity building efforts through a range of activities aimed at enhancing opportunities and raising awareness of issues affecting smaller businesses, including regional SMME summits, and efforts to promote greater economic inclusion of young entrepreneurs and women.

Through these activities and many more, ABAC is focused on assisting governments achieve growth, greater economic integration and stability across the region.




28 April 2011

APEC Business Leaders Call for Action to Support SMEs and Boost FDI year

Urges Trade Ministers to Take Swift Measures to Establish a Free Trade Area of the Asia Pacific (FTAAP) Conclude WTO Doha Development Agenda

[Seoul, Korea] April 28, 2011 – The business leaders representing the 21 economies of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) today announced their recommendations on priorities for APEC’s trade and investment agenda. These recommendations will be formally submitted to APEC Trade Ministers and Small and Medium Enterprise Ministers in advance of their respective meetings to be held from 19 - 21 May in Big Sky, Montana.

ABAC identified and will provide recommendations to Ministers on addressing what it sees as the top four barriers to cross-border trade for SMEs: 1) access to finance, 2) lack of capacity to internationalize, 3) the need for transparency and open business environments and 4) inability to protect intellectual property rights.

“Taking APEC as a whole, SMEs make up roughly 90 percent of all businesses and employ nearly 60 percent of the work force, but they only account for around 30 percent of exports. It is critical that APEC SME Ministers take strong action to help these companies to increase their reach across borders,” said Deb Henretta, APEC Business Advisory Council Chair and Group President, Asia, Procter & Gamble.

ABAC will also call on Ministers to address the slow recovery of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in the region, noting that particular attention should be focused on actions aimed at accelerating the growth of FDI. Such actions include improving the predictability, transparency and efficiency of the legal and regulatory environment for investment and providing effective mechanisms for expedited approval processes and the resolution of disputes.

ABAC will urge APEC Ministers Responsible for Trade to take concrete steps towards greater regional economic integration through the establishment of a Free Trade Area of the Asia Pacific (FTAAP). ABAC will recommend that a key objective of steps towards FTAAP should be to enhance the operation of integrated supply and value chains which reflect the way business is now increasingly being done in the region. As an incubator for ideas APEC has a key role to play in identifying blockages and overcoming barriers and impediments which would enhance competitiveness, make business more profitable, help companies better manage inventories and lower costs for consumers.

The APEC Business Advisory Council met in Seoul this week just after the Pascal Lamy, Director-General of the World Trade Organization, warned that, despite progress on the global trade negotiations, the differences in Non-Agricultural Market Access are effectively blocking progress and putting into serious doubt the conclusion of the Round this year. Concerned about the failure of the Doha Development Round, ABAC pressed APEC to make stronger efforts to bridge the gaps identified in the current stocktaking, and to give negotiators the flexibility to deliver an ambitious and commercially meaningful outcome.

About ABAC
The APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC) was created by the APEC Economic Leaders in November 1995 to provide advice on the implementation of the Osaka Action Agenda and on other specific business sector priorities, and to respond when the various APEC fora request information about business-related issues or to provide the business perspective on specific areas of cooperation.

For more information, please contact:
Mr. Alex Parle, ABAC Executive Director 2011, Tel: (1 206) 441 9022, Email: aparle@ncapec.org
Mr. Antonio Basilio, ABAC Secretariat, Tel: (63 2) 845 4564, Email: abacsec@pfgc.ph
Mr. Anh Tuan Tu, APEC Secretariat, Tel: (65) 6891 96496, Email: tat@apec.org




18 February 2011

APEC Business Advisory Council seeks to boost commerce, support economic growth and job creation
during U.S. APEC host year

Leading Asia-Pacific Business Executives want progress on ‘faster, easier and less expensive trade’

[Guangzhou, CHINA] February 18, 2011 – As negotiations on a potential pathway for a Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific get underway in Santiago this week, business leaders and top executives from a wide range of companies in the region called today in Guangzhou on APEC to make trade and investment in the region easier and more efficient.

“Together the 21 economies of APEC represent a fast growing, dynamic and diverse region. We represent businesses of all sizes from every industry serving billions of consumers,” said Deb Henretta, Chair of the APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC) and Group President, Asia, Procter & Gamble. “Our work this year will focus on the development of concrete building blocks for possible pathways toward a Free Trade Area of the Asia Pacific that will stimulate economic growth and prosperity across the Asia-Pacific region.”

ABAC is helping to grow this market and facilitate trade in the region through its interaction with the APEC forum which is being hosted by the United States this year. ABAC launched the 2011 campaign under a theme of “21 economies for 21st century prosperity” in the first of its four meetings in Guangzhou, China from February 14-17.

At the meeting, the group identified five key priorities for the year, including promoting regional economic integration, creating an environment where small and medium enterprises can prosper, and fostering sustainable growth by increasing food and energy security.

As part of food security, the ABAC members agreed to seek ways to decrease the estimated 40% loss which occurs in the region’s food supply chain, a loss which has contributed to recent increases in the price of some staples. ABAC members also agreed to boost efforts to enable the finance sector to support growth in the region by increasing effectiveness and efficiencies in financial markets and capacity building.

ABAC members are committed to seeing tangible results by the end of this year, as well as significant progress towards “21st century prosperity” which will be achieved through balanced, innovative, inclusive, sustainable and secure growth in the region. ABAC members believe that the greater the stake that the 21 member economies have in each other’s prosperity; the greater the motivation will be for leaders to develop policies that will facilitate trade as a key driver of economic growth.

About ABAC
The APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC) was created by the APEC Economic Leaders in November 1995 to provide advice on the implementation of the Osaka Action Agenda and on other specific business sector priorities, and to respond when the various APEC fora request information about business-related issues or to provide the business perspective on specific areas of cooperation.
ABAC comprises of up to three members of the private sector from each economy. ABAC members are appointed by their respective Leaders, and represent a range of business sectors, including small and medium enterprises. The economy determines the term of membership of each appointee as well as its own administrative arrangements and staff support.

For more information, please contact:
Mr. Alex Parle, ABAC Executive Director 2011, Tel: (1 206) 441 9022, Email: aparle@ncapec.org
Mr. Antonio Basilio, ABAC Secretariat, Tel: (63 2) 845 4564, Email: abacsec@pfgc.ph
Mr. Anh Tuan Tu, APEC Secretariat, Tel: (65) 6891 96496, Email: tat@apec.org




25 January 2011

New APEC investment guide to promote transparency

Singapore – APEC has updated its investment guide for the Asia-Pacific region, which aims to improve transparency of investment policies and regulations and to enhance cross-border investment, fundamental to strong economic growth.

Developed by the APEC Investment Experts’ Group, the “Guide to Investment Regimes of APEC Member Economies” is available for download from the APEC website.

The guidebook, now in its seventh edition, is an authoritative resource for existing and potential investors in the region, providing clear and relevant information about policies, regulatory considerations and statutory requirements that effect investment in each economy.

The guide aims to deepen business understanding of individual economies’ investment climates and to enable government officials to compare investment frameworks in the region to further liberalise their own investment regimes and promote business friendly policies.

Information was sought from APEC members about their investment regimes, with 16 economies answering a standard set of questions for the guide. The questionnaires themselves were completely updated for this edition, to more directly address the interests and needs of guide users.

The online guide covers regulation of foreign investment, (including the process for investment and any conditions of investment), investment protection (including property rights, dispute settlement and flow of funds), treatment of foreign nationals or personnel of foreign firms as well as taxation. It also includes key contact information and web links in each of the economies.

For more information please contact:
Trudy Harris + 65 6891 9671 or +65 98983710 or th@apec.org