APEC SOM DISCUSSES ECONOMIC CRISIS, RECOVERY PREPARATIONS

BY ZAKARIA WAHAB

SINGAPORE, Nov 9 (Bernama) -- Senior officials of the 21 Asia-Pacific
Economic Cooperation (APEC) economies continued their second day meeting Monday,
with a plenary session discussing how APEC member countries will manage the
world economic crisis and prepare for recovery.

One of the highlights of the meeting, according to the organiser at a media
briefing today, is that the officials would look into the findings of the second
APEC Trade Finance Survey conducted by Singapore between October and November
this year.

The Senior Officials Meeting (SOM) will also re-affirm their commitment to
eschew protectionism and introduce a regular regional peer review process.

The meeting will also focus on further improving business environment and
connecting the region in the next phase of Asia-Pacific growth.

On accelerating regional economic integration, it has been APEC's
traditional role of keeping regional markets open and the roles will be
enhanced in the years ahead.

The SOM will also consider key outcomes from the SOM Steering Committee on
Economic and Technical Cooperation (ECOTECH).

International Trade and Industry Ministry's APEC Senior Director N.
Vasudevan represented Malaysia at the meeting chaired by Singapore's APEC SOM
Chairman Ravi Menon.
- BERNAMA