APEC Economic Leaders to Meet Business Leaders to Discuss Priority Regional Business Concerns

Members of the APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC) will meet with APEC Economic Leaders on November 18 as part of the APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting in Busan, Korea.

Foremost business concerns are expected to include: a successful WTO Ministerial Meeting in Hong Kong and rapid conclusion of the WTO Doha Development Agenda negotiations, effective measures to deal with a possible bird flu pandemic, and the impact on the region of protracted high energy prices.

ABAC Chair, Mr Jae-Hyun Hyun, said: "There is no other priority of such sustained concern to business as the rapid and successful conclusion of this WTO round, and we expect APEC Leaders and Ministers to step forward in show leadership at this critical time."

These and other private sector priorities were detailed further in the 2005 ABAC report to Leaders: "Networking Asia-Pacific Economic: A Pathway to Common Prosperity."

This report is prepared annually by ABAC, which consists of three representative business executives from each APEC economy, hand-picked by their respective Leaders to serve on this advisory body.

ABAC members will meet collectively with Leaders, in a private, face-to-face dialogue, to offer their views on concerns and opportunities facing Leaders and the region.

Mr Hyun said: "We feel a tremendous opportunity and responsibility to offer our best private-sector advice, and to reflect business perspectives to Leaders, as they wrestle with the region's weightiest issues."

The ABAC report to Leaders is available at www.abaconline.org.