"APEC economies contribute to global growth. Its economic growth is improving while countries in other region are facing downturn," Indonesian Trade Minister Gita Wirjawan, in the opening remarks of 19th APEC Ministers Responsible for Trade (MRT) meeting, said here on Saturday.
Minister Wirjawan spoke in his capacity as current chairman of APEC ministerial meeting. The meeting takes place on April 20-21, 2013 and being attended by delegates from 19 out of APEC`s 21 member economies, representatives from four organizations, ASEAN, WTO, the Pacific Economic Cooperation Council (PECC) and APEC Secretariat.
This is preceded by a series of meetings at the level of sub-fora and working groups since April 7, 2013, whose results subsequently summarized in the meetings of the Committee on Trade and Investment, Economic Committee and Sub-Committee.
Wirjawan pointed out that APEC members need to increase its economic and technical cooperation and acknowledgement apart from its traditional activity of promoting more trade liberalization in the region.
Indonesia hosts APEC meetings in 2013 and has set the theme "Resilient Asia Pacific, Engine of Global growth." With this theme, Indonesia hopes to continue to promote a stronger and resilient Asia Pacific as a locomotive of the world`s economic growth.
In 1994, Indonesia hosted the APEC Summit in Bogor, West Java, where APEC leaders adopted the Bogor goals, focusing on free and open trade and investment in the Asia Pacific region by 2010 for industrialized economies, and by 2020 for developing economies.
To meet the Bogor goals, the APEC meetings are expected to focus discussion on three areas, namely trade and investment liberalization, business facilitation and economic and technical cooperation.
Leaders of APEC economies will meet for APEC annual summit which is slated for October in Bali.
Reporter: Edi Utama
Editor: Unggul Tri Ratomo
Copyright © ANTARA 2013
