New Deputy Executive Director at the APEC Secretariat

Ambassador Juan Carlos Capuñay has begun his appointment as the Deputy Executive Director of the APEC Secretariat which is based in Singapore. Ambassador Capuñay will serve as Deputy during the current APEC year hosted by Australia and becomes the 16th Executive Director when Peru hosts APEC in 2008.

On assuming his position Ambassador Capuñay said he looked forward to a successful conclusion of the current APEC year that will culminate with the APEC Leaders Meeting in Sydney in September.

"APEC is a process whereby each year achieves a set of outcomes and sets the direction for the year ahead," Ambassador Capuñay said from Singapore.

"The Leaders of APEC Member Economies will meet in Sydney this year to review progress and to provide the direction and set work plans for 2008 when I am charged with leading the Secretariat.

"The 2007 APEC agenda includes a number of major issues for the region including structural reform in the regional economy, energy security and APEC reform."

Ambassador Capuñay has served as a diplomat in the Peruvian Foreign Service since 1972 in a number of positions around the Asia-Pacific including postings to China, Singapore, Japan and the United Nations.
Until his appointment as Deputy Executive Director Ambassador Capuñay was Peru's Senior Official to APEC for four years.

The APEC Secretariat is based in Singapore and operates as the core support mechanism for the APEC process. It provides coordination, technical and advisory support as well as information management, communications and public outreach services.