New APEC Secretariat Executive Director

Ambassador Mario Artaza becomes the 12th Executive Director of the APEC Secretariat on the 1st of January 2004. The appointment coincides with the start of the 2004 APEC Year to be hosted by the Republic of Chile after the successful conclusion of the Thai APEC year in 2003.

A former Chilean Ambassador to the United States and the United Kingdom, Ambassador Artaza served in the Chile Foreign Service from 1958 until the military coup in 1973 then returned to government service for Chile in 1990. Between 1974 and 1990 Ambassador Artaza held a series of positions at the World Bank.

Based in Singapore, Ambassador Artaza will lead the operations of the APEC Secretariat as the support base for the new APEC Year to be chaired by Chile. Included in the 2004 APEC programme are nine ministerial meetings, over one hundred working group forums and seminars as well as the annual APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting, in Santiago in November 2004.

Working with the theme for the Chile Year of "One Community, Our Future," Ambassador Artaza said the 2004 APEC Year will highlight the importance of social and capacity building activities in the APEC process working alongside APEC's free trade and investment goals.

"Raising skill levels and strengthening the capacity of all APEC economies to be competitive in the global economy is essential for long term economic growth," Ambassador Artaza said.

"Improving the lives of people through education and training, reducing government red tape and creating an environment with entrepreneurial opportunities are core aspects of APEC's work.

"APEC activities cover a broad range of economic and social issues that are essential for the prosperity and security of the Asia-Pacific.

"A major issue facing APEC Economies this year is getting the Doha Development Agenda round of WTO negotiations back on track.

"This WTO round is a development round and will deliver great benefits to people in developing economies so there is a lot riding on its successful conclusion.

"All APEC Member Economies are committed to advancing the Doha Development Agenda and this year's APEC calendar will provide a number of opportunities to work towards a successful conclusion of this WTO round.

"APEC will also draw on the collective strength of APEC representatives at the WTO to facilitate the process and to strengthen linkages between the work of APEC and the WTO."

The APEC Executive Director is appointed each year by the host economy and serves as the Deputy Executive Director the preceding year. In 2004 the Deputy Executive Director will be Ambassador Choi Seok-young who will become Executive Director when Korea hosts APEC in 2005.

Major APEC Events for 2004 include:

• Science Ministers' Meeting, 10-12 March, Christchurch, New Zealand
• Education Ministers' Meeting, 29-30 April, Santiago, Chile
• Mining Ministers' Meeting, June (tba), Chile
• Energy Ministers' Meeting, 04 June, Cebu, Philippines
• Ministers Responsible for Trade Meeting, 04-05 June, Pucon, Chile
• Transport Ministers' Meeting, 27-29 July, Bali, Indonesia
• Finance Ministers' Meeting, 02-03 September, Santiago, Chile
• SME Ministers' Meeting, 06-07 October, Santiago, Chile
• Joint Ministerial Meeting, 17-18 November, Santiago, Chile
• APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting, 20-21 November, Santiago, Chile