APEC to meet in Port Moresby

 ASIA Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC)  business advisory council officials will meet in Port Moresby, PNG, next month to flesh out new policy recommendations for APEC economies.

This will be followed in May by a meeting of APEC ministers responsible for trade in Arequipa, Peru.

APEC secretariat executive director Dr Alan Bollard said efforts towards more openness and integration could boost ebbing trade while positioning them to tackle mounting structural impediments to productivity and social well-being.

“The Asia-Pacific region continues to grow but is no longer the world’s leader of growth. And the slowing of trade is at the heart of the problem,” he said.

“The shortcomings of globalisation in today’s changing environment are increasing the risk of protectionism that could further weigh on economies.”

He said there was still “considerable potential in the Asia-Pacific region for growth in sectors such as service trade and small business participation.– New Straits Times Online