Message from the Chairman

Sandra J. Kristoff, New York Life

Welcome to the National Center for Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC).  The National Center is a private, non-profit U.S. organization, supported by member companies represented by a Board of Governors from some of America's leading firms.  The National Center for APEC has a unique franchise in that it is the only national organization focused exclusively on issues relevant to U.S. companies doing business throughout the entire Asia Pacific region, a region which is home to approximately 60% of world GDP and 50% of global trade.  APEC brings together 21 member economies from both sides of the Pacific to create economic growth and prosperity in the region by liberalizing trade and investment.  The National Center's mission is to facilitate U.S. business participation in the APEC process by supporting the efforts of the private sector actors in the region, and to provide a link between business and the government policy community to develop and advance a common agenda.

The National Center for APEC works in close cooperation with the Departments of State, Commerce and Treasury, as well as with the Office of the United States Trade Representative and other government agencies.  Together, we strive to generate broad-based private sector involvement in APEC initiatives with an aim to advancing the business community's trade agenda.  The National Center also serves as secretariat for the three presidentially-appointed U.S. members of the APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC).  ABAC, a body of leading business and private sector representatives from the 21 APEC regional economies, is unique among private sector advisory bodies in that it is an official and integral element of the official APEC policy process.  ABAC participates in APEC deliberations and meetings with APEC Leaders (primarily heads of state of the APEC economies) annually during the Leaders' Summit.

The support provided by the National Center has been critical to the success of several U.S. industry-led initiatives and objectives that have been endorsed and promoted by the full ABAC.  These include the establishment of APEC Data Privacy Principles and Model Principles to control On-line Piracy; development of the APEC Life Sciences Innovation Forum Strategic Plan; and establishment of ongoing public-private dialogues focused on the automotive and chemical industries.  The National Center also has taken the lead on creating APEC demonstration projects, such as the highly successful Shanghai Model Port Project, completed in 2001; a Health Care Accreditation project and e-learning project completed in 2002; the 2003 Bangkok Laem Chabang Efficient and Secure Trade Project; and a 2006 Customs Modernization Project in Vietnam.

       I encourage you to familiarize yourself with the website and contact the National Center directly for further information on specific issues and answers to your questions.

Sincerely,