APEC Working Groups
Association of Pacific Rim Universities (APRU): Thirty-four universities from the Asia-Pacific region cooperate on regional research and promote multilateral solidarity.
Agricultural Technology Working Group: The Agricultural Technology Working Group is responsible for key agricultural issues, including implementation of the APEC Food Project. This group is also responsible for biotechnology in the agricultural context.
Business Mobility - APEC Informal Expert's Group
Customs Procedures Sub-Committee: This subcommittee helps facilitate regional trade through the harmonization of customs procedures.
E-Commerce Steering Group: This group has coordinated APEC activities to promote e-commerce. In association with the E-Commerce Steering Group, Baker and McKenzie have compiled a legal guide to e-commerce in the region, found at:
Energy Working Group: The EWG is committed to energy sector reform in the Asia-Pacific region. Accordingly, the group has commissioned studies in the following areas: clean fossil energy, energy efficiency, renewable resources and mineral development.
Fisheries Working Group: This working group addresses key issues in regional fisheries management and aims to increase resource conservation and sustainability.
Gender Focal Point Network: This group is committed to enhancing the visibility and equality of women in the APEC work environment.
Global Business Dialogue on E-Commerce
Human Resource Development Working Group: This working group conducts a variety of programs on human resource development.
Industrial Science and Technology Committee Working Group: This website includes database of all existing ISTWG projects and research. This group is the primary forum for discussion of science and technology issues within APEC.
Intellectual Property Rights Experts Group: The objective of this expert's group is to establish a meaningful APEC dialogue on intellectual property rights and investigate the enforcement and protection of IPR in the region.
Marine Resources Conservation Working Group: This group is responsible for implementation of the action plan to enforce the sustainability of marine environments. The group is involved in outreach, research and education.
Minerals and Energy Exploration and Development Experts Group: This group is responsible for cooperation on mining. It is lead by Mexico. Their website can be reached at:
Small and Medium Sized Enterprise Working Group: This site links to a variety of issues concerning emerging enterprises. Key focuses address the impact of financial instability and e-commerce on SMEs.
Standards and Conformance Sub-Committee: This subcommittee aims to enhance APEC members' accordance with international laws in key areas.
Telecommunications and Information Working Group: This group is extremely active in achieving the Leaders' mandate to triple access to the Internet among the population of APEC economies by 2005 and to provide universal Internet access within APEC by 2010.
Tourism Working Group: The TWG brings together tourism administrators from APEC economies and develops common tourism policies that promote economic and social development.
Trade Promotion Working Group: The objective of the TPWG is to promote intra-regional trade and bring together both public and private trade organizations. The site contains a database concerning a range of promotion opportunities:
Transportation Working Group: The TWG studies the regional transportation system in order to promote efficiency, safety, environmental sensitivity and economic and social development. Transportation Ministers are to gather in Peru in November 2001 to further APEC cooperation.