GLOBAL ECONOMIC TURMOIL SET TO BE MAJOR TOPIC AT APEC MEETING

From Nor Baizura Basri

LIMA (Peru), Nov 19 (Bernama) -- The current global economic turmoil is
likely to be among the pertinent issues discussed by the ministers of the
Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) Wednesday when they converged here for
the two-day meet ahead of the Leaders' Summit.
The economic crisis, which had resulted in technical recession in most Euro
Zone, is likely to dominate the meeting as member countries discuss possible
actions at regional and multilateral levels to mitigate the impact as well as
their contribution to the growth of the global economy.

International Trade and Industry Minister Muhyiddin Yassin and
Foreign Minister Rais Yatim will attend the ministers' meeting.

During the ministers' retreat, Malaysia will share experiences and discuss
possible collective and cooperative actions which focused on ways to tackle the
current global financial crisis.

The meeting will provide an opportunity for Malaysia to impress upon
economies to keep their markets open to sustain the global economic impact and
export trade and facilitate investment flows.

Aside from economic crisis, the ministers will push to expedite
negotiations to conclude the World Trade Organisation's Doha Round negotiations.

Also on the table will be the Apec Regional Economic Integration Agenda and
calls for proactive corporate social responsibility among the private
sector.

Set up in 1989, Apec is a forum where its 21 members meet to facilitate
economic growth, cooperation, trade and investment. It operates on a non-binding
basis with decisions taken on a voluntary basis.

-- BERNAMA