A S I A - P A C I F I C C O O P E R A T I O N

Transcription

1 A S I A - P A C I F I C E C O N O M I C C O O P E R A T I O N

2 Close cooperation between our government and the private sector is indispensable to ensuring our work in the APEC forum serves the needs of American businesses and workers. Since 1994, just after APEC was first hosted by the United States, the National Center for APEC has played an integral role in bringing the public and private sectors together in this vital effort. Barack Obama President of the United States of America About the National Center for APEC The National Center for APEC (NCAPEC) is dedicated to advancing the U.S. business community s views in the dynamic Asia-Pacific region. Established in Seattle, Washington in 1994, NCAPEC is the only U.S. business association focused exclusively on facilitating private sector engagement in the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) process. As a business association, NCAPEC counts as its members 50 U.S. companies that are deeply engaged in Asia-Pacific economies, and that are dedicated to the region s growth and prosperity. NCAPEC works with APEC economies to advance U.S. private sector priorities on trade, economic, and regulatory issues, as well as with U.S. government agencies, in order to promote more open trade and investment environments in the region. 2

3 017 APEC Vietnam NCAPEC will play a leading role advancing the U.S. private sector s interests and activities during Vietnam s APEC chairmanship, and connecting companies with opportunities to promote their policy objectives in the region. 3

4 Creating New Dynamism, Fostering Shared APEC Vietnam Next year will mark the second time Vietnam will host APEC since acceding to the group in 1998; it first hosted in Vietnamese officials consider Vietnam s APEC chairmanship to be its most important diplomatic event to take place over the next decade. That is due, in part, to APEC s strategic importance to Vietnam; nineteen APEC economies participate in free trade agreements with Vietnam and its trade with APEC economies represents 79 percent of the country s total trade. APEC economies also invest significantly in Vietnam, representing nearly 80 percent of total foreign direct investment. Nineteen APEC economies participate in free trade agreements with Vietnam and its trade with APEC economies represents 79% of the country s total trade. APEC economies also invest significantly in Vietnam, representing nearly 80% of total foreign direct investment. 4

5 Future 2017 APEC Vietnam Year The theme of Vietnam s host year will be, Creating New Dynamism, Fostering Shared Future. In addition to advancing APEC s ongoing initiatives, Vietnam has identified key priorities it will focus on during its host year. Key themes for 2017: Regional economic integration Food security and agricultural development Sustainable, innovative, and inclusive growth SMEs and innovation Ongoing initiatives in areas including: Digital economy Trade facilitation Services Energy security Infrastructure Women s issues Health Anti-corruption Financial services Mining 2017 Private Sector Engagement Opportunities APEC 2017 will provide an array of opportunities for U.S. and foreign companies to engage with officials through the APEC process, and to share their perspectives and recommendations with senior government officials. Through the APEC Business Advisory Council and direct engagement, private sector views will be represented in the following events, among others: Ministers Responsible for Trade Meeting High Level Policy Dialogue on Human Resource Development in the Digital Age Senior Finance Officials Meeting High Level Policy Roundtable on Sustainable Tourism High Level Policy Dialogue on Food Security and Sustainable Agriculture Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises Ministerial Meeting High Level Policy Dialogue on Women and the Economy Finance Ministerial Meeting 5

6 2 017 CEO Summit Over the past 20 years, the APEC CEO Summit has become one of the most important events held during the APEC year. The Summit brings together more than 1,000 senior business executives from international enterprises across the Asia-Pacific, as well as senior political leaders from the 21 APEC economies. With its broad appeal, the Summit provides a unique setting for leaders and executives to discuss top economic and policy issues affecting the region, as well as challenges facing both government and industry alike. In 2017, the CEO Summit is expected to take place in November in Danang, Vietnam. Executive Roundtable NCAPEC s Executive Roundtable is the premier forum for developing strategies to ensure that APEC s agenda addresses the concerns of businesses operating in the Asia-Pacific region. Each year, the Roundtable brings together senior business and government leaders from the United States, the APEC host economy, and other APEC economies to discuss steps governments can take to improve business environments and reduce barriers to trade and investment. The Executive Roundtable for the Vietnam year will be held in early

7 About APEC APEC was founded in 1989, with the goal of promoting free and open trade and advancing sustainable economic growth in the Asia-Pacific. Today, APEC is comprised of 21 economies located in the region, which are dedicated to promoting greater trade and investment globally. Through APEC, officials from each economy convene throughout the year to discuss ways to remove market barriers, facilitate trade, and promote sustainable development that enables economic growth. Heads of state meet annually to set strategic direction and long-term objectives for the group. APEC represents one of the most valuable economic regions in the world. In 2013, APEC economies collectively represented more than half of global GDP, and trade among APEC economies accounted for more than half of all global trade. Intra-APEC trade also plays a significant role in the United States economy. Nearly six million jobs were supported by U.S. exports to APEC in 2013, according to the U.S. Department of Commerce, and more than 60 percent of all U.S. exports were shipped to APEC countries that same year. Why APEC is Important APEC is important to American interests. It is the only head-of-state level forum in the Asia-Pacific where the world s largest and smallest economies work side-by-side to develop workable solutions to trade and investment barriers. APEC is a consensus-driven organization and its outcomes are not binding on economies. Instead, APEC works on the basis of concerted unilateral liberalization meaning that each APEC member voluntarily agrees to liberalize in a particular area of trade and investment. This difference makes APEC unique from other organizations, because it gives its 21 members a platform to raise emerging or sensitive issues before introducing them in a binding forum, such as the WTO or a trade agreement negotiation, like the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP). This collaborative approach makes APEC an effective incubator of ideas. Only APEC brings together policymakers, business leaders, and academics from North and South America, Oceania, and Asia to meet on a regular basis and work toward a common goal of improving economic conditions for the benefit of their societies. Through APEC s discussions, participants seek to address behind-theborder issues by proposing guidelines, best practices, and initiatives to make steady progress toward their shared economic goals. The National Center for APEC has a long-standing record of connecting companies with opportunities in APEC. It has served us well as a key mechanism to engage leaders and officials across the Asia-Pacific on a wide array of trade and investment issues. Karan Bhatia Vice President and Senior Counsel for GE Global Government Affairs and Policy 7

8 The National Center for APEC is bipartisan. Republican and Democratic administrations alike have recognized that the Asia-Pacific region will be the engine of global growth and prosperity in the 21st century. The smart ones never miss a chance to meet with NCAPEC s members in conjunction with the APEC Summit. I was always particularly impressed with the caliber of its membership and the substantive quality of our discussions. Ambassador Susan Schwab Former United States Trade Representative National Center for APEC th Avenue, Suite 760 Seattle, WA p f info@ncapec.org