APEC is the premier
Asia-Pacific economic forum. Our primary goal is to support sustainable
economic growth and prosperity in the Asia-Pacific region.We are united in our
drive to build a dynamic and harmonious Asia-Pacific community by championing
free and open trade and investment, promoting and accelerating regional
economic integration, encouraging economic and technical cooperation, enhancing
human security, and facilitating a favorable and sustainable business
environment. Our initiatives turn policy goals into concrete results and
agreements into tangible benefits.
The idea of APEC was firstly
publicly broached by former Prime Minister of Australia, Mr Bob Hawke, during a
speech in Seoul, Korea in January 1989. Later that year, 12 Asia-Pacific
economies met in Canberra, Australia to establish APEC. The founding members
were: Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Canada, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia,
New Zealand, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and the United States. China,
Hong Kong, China and Chinese Taipei joined in 1991. Mexico and Papua New Guinea
followed in 1993. Chile acceded in 1994. And in 1998, Peru, Russia and Viet Nam
joined, taking the full membership to 21. Between 1989 and 1992, APEC met as an
informal senior official and Ministerial level dialogue. In 1993, former United
States President, Mr Bill Clinton, established the practice of an annual APEC
Economic Leaders' Meeting.
APEC has 21 members. The word 'economies' is used to describe APEC
members because the APEC cooperative process is predominantly concerned with
trade and economic issues, with members engaging with one another as economic
entities.
|
APEC
Members
|
Date
of Joining
|
|
Australia
|
6-7 Nov 1989
|
|
Brunei Darussalam
|
6-7 Nov 1989
|
|
Canada
|
6-7 Nov 1989
|
|
Chile
|
11-12 Nov 1994
|
|
People's Republic of
China
|
12-14 Nov 1991
|
|
Hong Kong, China
|
12-14 Nov 1991
|
|
Indonesia
|
6-7 Nov 1989
|
|
Japan
|
6-7 Nov 1989
|
|
Republic of Korea
|
6-7 Nov 1989
|
|
Malaysia
|
6-7 Nov 1989
|
|
Mexico
|
17-19 Nov 1993
|
|
New Zealand
|
6-7 Nov 1989
|
|
Papua New Guinea
|
17-19 Nov 1993
|
|
Peru
|
14-15 Nov 1998
|
|
The Philippines
|
6-7 Nov 1989
|
|
Russia
|
14-15 Nov 1998
|
|
Singapore
|
6-7 Nov 1989
|
|
Chinese Taipei
|
12-14 Nov 1991
|
|
Thailand
|
6-7 Nov 1989
|
|
The United States
|
6-7 Nov 1989
|
|
Viet Nam
|
14-15 Nov 1998
|
The Asia-Pacific region has
consistently been the most economically dynamic region in the world. APEC
member economies together account for: 40 percent of world population (2.7
billion people); 44 percent of global trade ($16.8 trillion) and 53 percent of
world real GDP in purchasing power parity (PPP) terms ($35.8 trillion).
The region’s real GDP (PPP)
has also doubled from $17.7 trillion in 1989 to $35.8 trillion in 2010. By
comparison, real GDP (PPP) in the rest of the world has only grown at 3 percent
per year, from $17.2 trillion to $31.9 trillion. This means that APEC’s share
of world real GDP has increased from 51 percent in 1989 to 53 percent in 2010.
APEC's work under its three
main pillars of activity, Trade and Investment Liberalisation, Business
Facilitation and Economic and Technical Cooperation, has helped drive this
economic growth and improve employment opportunities and standards of living
for the citizens of the region.
Trade and Investment
Liberalisation
· APEC is the premier forum for trade and investment
liberalisation in the Asia-Pacific and has set targets dates for "free and
open trade": no later than the year 2010 for industrialized economies, and
2020 for developing economies.
·
When APEC was established in 1989 average trade barriers in
the region stood at 16.9%; by 2010 barriers had been reduced to 5.8%.
·
As a consequence, intra-APEC merchandise trade (exports and
imports) has grown from $1.7 trillion in 1989 to $9.9 trillion in 2010, nearly
a six-fold increase; now accounting for 67 percent of APEC’s total merchandise
trade.
·
Similarly, APEC’s total trade (goods & services) has
increased from $3.1 trillion in 1989 to $16.8 trillion in 2010, over a fivefold
increase. In the same period, total trade by the rest of the world has gone
from $4.6 trillion to $21.1 trillion.
·
By June 2011, 48 FTAs had been signed between APEC members;
there are currently 42 FTAs in force between APEC member economies.
·
APEC is also pursuing trade and investment liberalisation
through its Regional Economic Integration agenda. Progress to date includes:
·
Investigating the prospects of and options for a Free Trade
Area of the Asia-Pacific.
·
The development of 15 model measures for RTAs/FTAs that serve
as a reference for APEC members to achieve comprehensive and high-quality
agreements.
·
APEC has also acted as a catalyst in the advancement of World
Trade Organisation multilateral trade negotiations over the past 20 years.
Business
Facilitation
·
As a result of the APEC Trade Facilitation Action Plan (TFAP
I) the cost of business transactions across the region was reduced by 5%
between 2002 and 2006.
·
A second trade facilitation action plan (TFAP II) reduced
transaction costs by a further 5% in real terms between 2007 and 2010,
representing total savings for business of $58.7biillon
·
APEC initiatives that help facilitate trade include:
i.
The introduction of electronic/paperless systems by all
member economies, covering the payment of duties, and customs and trade-related
document processing.
ii.
The Single Window Strategic Plan, adopted in 2007, provides a
framework for the development of Single Window systems which will allow
importers and exporters to submit information to government once, instead of to
multiple government agencies, through a single entry point.
iii.
The APEC webpage on Tariffs and ROOs ("WebTR")
launched in November 2010 provides users with easy access to APEC member
economies' tariff and Rules of Origin information.
iv.
In 2008, a groundbreaking Investment Facilitation Action Plan
was endorsed; it aims to improve the investment environment in Member
Economies.
v.
The APEC Privacy Framework provides guidance and direction to
both APEC member economies and businesses on implementing information privacy
protection policies and procedures. By facilitating information flows it will
facilitate trade and e-commerce.
vi.
The APEC Business Travel Card (ABTC) provides substantial
time and cost savings to business people and facilitates their travel in the
region, by allowing visa free travel and express lane transit at airports in
participating economies.
vii.
APEC is also removing behind-the-border barriers to trade
through its Structural Reform agenda, which focuses on reforming domestic
policies and institutions that adversely affect the operation of markets, and
the capacity of businesses to access markets and to operate efficiently.
Economic and Technical
Cooperation
·
APEC's Economic and Technical Cooperation (ECOTECH)
activities are designed to build capacity and skills in APEC member economies
at both the individual and institutional level, to enable them to participate
more fully in the regional economy.
·
Since APEC first began to undertake capacity building work in
1993, around 1600 projects have been initiated; at any moment in time, up to
170 projects may be in implementation. APEC contributes funding to around
100-150 projects each year, with a total value of over $23 million committed by
APEC to projects in 2010-2011.
·
A particular focus has been reducing the digital divide
between industrialized and developing economies:
i.
In 2000, APEC set a goal of tripling internet usage in the
region and that goal has now been achieved, as recognised by the 2008 APEC
Ministerial Meeting on the Telecommunications and Information Industry. APEC is
now focusing efforts on achieving the goal of universal access to broadband in
the APEC region by 2015 – an ambitious target reaffirmed by Telecommunications
Ministers in Okinawa, Japan in 2010.
ii.
A network of 46 APEC Digital Opportunity Centers (ADOC) now
operate in 10 member economies. ADOC's objective is to transform the digital
divide into digital opportunities and the centres act as local information and
communication technology (ICT) resource centres, providing citizens and
businesses of the region with access to ICT technologies, education and
training.
Other Achievements
APEC has also been able to
evolve its agenda to include pressing regional priorities. Examples include:
counter-terrorism (The Shanghai Statement in 2001, and the Counter-Terrorism
Task Force); human security (Health Working Group); emergency preparedness
(Emergency Preparedness Working Group); climate change, energy security and
clean development (The Sydney Declaration in 2007 and the APEC List of Environmental
Goods in 2012); and the global financial crisis (The Vladivostok Statement in
2012).
Key APEC Milestones
2012 - Vladivostok, Russia
APEC Leaders issue the
Vladivostok Declaration stating their commitments to: Trade and Investment
Liberalization, Regional Economic Integration; Strengthening Food Security;
Establishing Reliable Supply Chains; and Intensive Cooperation to Foster
Innovative Growth. Significantly, Leaders endorse an APEC List of Environmental
Goods that directly and positively contribute to green growth and sustainable
development objectives. APEC seeks to address transparency as a new next
generation trade and investment issue, and Leaders endorse the APEC Model
Chapter on Transparency for RTAs/FTAs to be used as a guide by APEC economies.
2011 - Honolulu, United
States
APEC Leaders issue the
Honolulu Declaration in which they commit to taking concrete steps toward a
seamless regional economy; addressing shared green growth objectives; and
advancing regulatory cooperation and convergence. To reach these goals, APEC
resolves to reduce, by the end of 2015, applied tariff rates of environmental
goods to 5 percent or less, taking into account economies' economic
circumstances, without prejudice to APEC economies' positions in the WTO. APEC
sets the goal to reduce aggregate energy intensity by 45 percent by 2035. And
APEC commits to take specific steps by 2013 to implement good regulatory
practices by ensuring internal coordination of regulatory work; assessing
regulatory impacts; and conducting public consultation.
2010 - Yokohama, Japan
APEC Leaders issue the
Yokohama Vision to provide a roadmap for members to realize an economically-integrated,
robust and secure APEC community. This includes the formulation of a
comprehensive, long-term growth strategy . APEC completes an assessment of the
progress towards the Bogor Goals and finds significant gains in the areas of
liberalizing trade in goods, services and investment, as well as trade
facilitation. APEC formulates the APEC Strategy for Investment and endorses the
APEC New Strategy for Structural Reform. APEC holds its first-ever APEC
Ministerial Meeting on Food Security.
2009 - Singapore
APEC resolves to pursue
balanced, inclusive and sustainable growth, while Leaders agree to extend their
standstill commitment on protectionism until 2010. The first-ever joint
meetings of APEC senior trade and finance officials are held to address the
economic crisis. APEC launches the Supply-Chain Connectivity Framework and the
Ease of Doing Business Action Plan to make doing business in the region 25
percent cheaper, faster and easier by 2015. Member economies also commence work
on an APEC Services Action Plan and an Environmental Goods and Services Work
Program.
2008 - Lima, Peru
APEC focused on the social
dimensions of trade and on reducing the gap between developing and developed
members, in accordance with the 2008 theme, "A New Commitment to
Asia-Pacific Development". Leaders also addressed the global financial
crisis in the Lima APEC Leaders' Statement on the Global Economy. They
committed to take all necessary economic and financial measures to restore
stability and growth, to reject protectionism and to intensify efforts to
advance WTO Doha Development Agenda negotiations.
2007 - Sydney, Australia
For the first time, APEC
Member Economies issue a Declaration on Climate Change, Energy Security and
Clean Development outlining future action in support of a new international
climate change arrangement and announcing a forward program of practical,
cooperative actions and initiatives. Leaders also adopted a major report on
closer Regional Economic Integration, including structural reform initiatives,
and welcomed the new APEC Trade Facilitation Action Plan which will reduce
trade transaction costs by a further five per cent by 2010.
2006 - Ha Noi, Viet Nam
APEC Economic Leaders
endorsed the Ha Noi Action Plan which identifies specific actions and
milestones to implement the Bogor Goals and support capacity-building measures
to help APEC economies. They also issued a statement on the WTO Doha
Development Agenda calling for ambitious and balanced outcomes. To prioritize
its agenda, APEC takes a strategic approach to reform working groups and
strengthen the Secretariat.
2005 - Busan, Korea
APEC adopts the Busan
Roadmap, completes the Mid-Term Stocktake which has found that APEC is well on
its way to meeting the Bogor Goals, and the APEC Privacy Framework. Leaders
issue a stand-alone statement in support of a successful conclusion to the
WTO's 6th Ministerial Meeting in Hong Kong, China and agree to confront
pandemic health threats and continue to fight against terrorism which could
cause deep economic insecurity for the region.
2004 - Santiago, Chile
APEC issues a strong
statement of support for progress in the WTO Doha Development Agenda and sets a
target date for achieving a breakthrough in negotiations: December 2005, the
convening of the Sixth WTO Ministerial Conference. APEC adopts Best Practices
for RTAs and FTAs, the Santiago Initiative for Expanded Trade and a Data
Privacy Framework. APEC reiterates its "unmistakable resolve" to
confront the threat of terrorism, and takes further action in this regard by
identifying key elements of effective export control systems; establishing
guidelines on the control of man-portable air defense systems (MANPADS), and
continuing to implement the STAR initiative. APEC makes a political commitment
to fight corruption and ensure transparency, and endorses a specific Course of
Action towards this end.
2003 - Bangkok, Thailand
APEC agrees to re-energize
the WTO Doha Development Agenda negotiations and stresses the complementary
aims of bilateral and regional trade agreements, the Bogor Goals and the
multilateral trading system under the WTO. APEC dedicates itself not only to
promoting the prosperity of member economies, but also to improving the
security of the peoples of the Asia-Pacific region. APEC pledges to take
specific actions to dismantle terrorist groups, eliminate the danger of weapons
of mass destruction and confront other security threats. Members sign up to the
APEC Action Plan on SARS and the Health Security Initiative to further protect
personal security. APEC also strengthens its efforts to build knowledge-based
economies, promote sound and efficient financial systems and accelerate
regional structural reform.
2002 - Los Cabos, Mexico
APEC adopts a Trade
Facilitation Action Plan, Policies on Trade and the Digital Economy and
Transparency Standards. APEC's second Counter-Terrorism Statement is delivered,
along with the adoption of the Secure Trade in the APEC Region (STAR)
Initiative.
2001 - Shanghai, People's
Republic of China
APEC adopts the Shanghai
Accord, which focuses on Broadening the APEC Vision, Clarifying the Roadmap to
Bogor and Strengthening the Implementation Mechanism. The e-APEC Strategy is
adopted, which sets out an agenda to strengthen market structures and
institutions, facilitate infrastructure investment and technology for on-line
transactions and promote entrepreneurship and human capacity building. APEC's
first Counter-Terrorism Statement is issued.
2000 - Bandar Seri Begawan,
Brunei Darussalam
APEC establishes an
electronic Individual Action Plan (e-IAP) system, providing IAPs online and
commits to the Action Plan for the New Economy, which, amongst other
objectives, aims to triple Internet access throughout APEC region by 2005.
1999 - Auckland, New Zealand
APEC commits to paperless
trading by 2005 in developed economies and 2010 in developing economies. APEC
Business Travel Card scheme is approved and a Mutual Recognition Arrangement on
Electrical Equipment and a Framework for the Integration of Women in APEC is
endorsed.
1998 - Kuala Lumpur,
Malaysia
APEC agrees on the first
nine sectors for EVSL and seeks an EVSL agreement with non-APEC members at the
World Trade Organization.
1997 - Vancouver, Canada
APEC endorses a proposal for
Early Voluntary Sectoral Liberalization (EVSL) in 15 sectors and decides that
Individual Action Plans should be updated annually.
1996 - Manila, The
Philippines
The Manila Action Plan for
APEC (MAPA) is adopted, outlining the trade and investment liberalisation and
facilitation measures to reach the Bogor Goals and the first Collective and
Individual Action Plans are compiled, outlining how economies will achieve the
free trade goals.
1995 - Osaka, Japan
APEC adopts the Osaka Action
Agenda (OAA) which provides a framework for meeting the Bogor Goals through
trade and investment liberalisation, business facilitation and sectoral
activities, underpinned by policy dialogues, economic and technical
cooperation.
1994 - Bogor, Indonesia
APEC sets the Bogor Goals
of, "free and open trade and investment in the Asia-Pacific by 2010 for
developed economies and 2020 for developing economies."
1993 - Blake Island, United
States
APEC Economic Leaders meet
for the first time and outline APEC's vision, "stability, security and
prosperity for our peoples."
1989 - Canberra, Australia
APEC begins as an informal
Ministerial-level dialogue group with 12 members.
कोई टिप्पणी नहीं:
एक टिप्पणी भेजें