Push free trade and restore confidence: business' call to APEC leaders: ABAC, APEC's business arm, has made some frank assessments about the state of the world economy in its 2002 report to leaders. . Business Advisory Council - Cover Story - Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation APEC - ABAC

Business Asia, Oct, 2002 by Randolph Ramsay

"Business' knowledge of the APEC agenda, of what was trying to be done, and how it affected them, had not been that strong in the past. We're trying to improve that," he said.

The Communications Outreach Program is intended to become a key liaison between ABAC, governments, the media, other business groups and the general public. The Program will help rouse interest in ABAC's meetings and deliberations, as well as providing a concise theme from the ABAC meetings which the media and the public can focus on.

The Program was first trialled at the Sydney ABAC meeting held in May this year. Charlton said the trial was a success, with unprecedented interest from government and business groups, as well as comprehensive media coverage.

"We had great success with measurable results. People were aware that ABAC was going on, they were aware of the agenda and they were aware of the outcomes," he said. Charlton said this success carried over into the next ABAC meeting, which was held in Hong Kong in August. Once again, key government figures turned out in force to address and meet with ABAC members.

"The real test for the program will happen in Los Cabos, Mexico, when ABAC meets with APEC Leaders," he said. "The Communications Outreach Program will be strongly focused to deliver the ABAC message to leaders, the business community and the media."

What ABAC wants

THREE ABAC EXECUTIVES SPEAK OUT ON WHAT APEC LEADERS SHOULD FOCUS ON.

Comment by Andrina Lever, president, Lever Enterprises, Canada ABAC Small and Medium Enterprise Task Force chair

"I would like to strongly urge APEC leaders to have a vision for the future--to determine really where they want APEC to be and where they want their own economy to be. This goes beyond the Bogor Goals. I am concerned that there is too much emphasis on immediate demands and not enough long-term strategy. All economies talk about the lack of funds available for health and education, yet there is talk about funding a war that will cost billions, thousands of lives and divert funds away from the neediest--we have to work quickly to close the gap between the included and excluded. If we are to believe that the events of 11 September were really caused by the inequities in the world, then we must work quickly to eliminate those inequities. It is simply not acceptable that today, there are millions who do not have access to education, health care and equal treatment within APEC. There are still too many that are disenfranchised--they must be included. To not include the disenfranchised is a waste of talent and resources, and in the long run more costly to governments.

Comment by Ernest Micek, chairman (retired), Cargill Inc, USA ABAC Action Plan Monitoring Committee chair

"On balance, the global economy is muddling through the numerous challenges about as well as can be expected. The American consumer has continued to spend but is becoming more wary as the Middle East situation continues to grow more worrisome. The investor has tended to view real estate favourably, but is resisting the stock market. The factors that contributed the most to economic expansion in the 1990s--greater trade and financial markets throughout the globe and the productivity gains brought by information technology--are still there, and economic growth should resume when current excesses are wrung out. APEC leaders must work together to promote equitable trade and investment initiatives--not only through the Doha Round of the WTO but throughout the APEC region as well. Another key step is to restore trust and confidence and for economies and companies to undertake serious efforts to achieve corporate governance best practice. APEC needs to continue its work in facilitating trade and investment flows throughout the Asia-Pacific. Finally, APEC has the opportunity to lead the world back to economic growth and prosperity; it needs to demonstrate its relevance beginning in Los Cabos."