Perpustakaan Pusat LAN RI

From the time the seeds of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum were planted in a meeting in Canberra, Australia in 1989, APEC has grown to include 18 member economies from the region. These 18 economices house 40% of the world's population, represent about one-third of the global consumer market, produce more than half of the combined world gross national product, and account for over half of total trade in the world. APEC's vision is the establishment of an economic community with free and open trade and investment, and is moving rapidly towards that goal. In close coordination with and fully supportive of the World Trade Organization, APEC is also helping promote free and open trade and investment in the entire world economy.

The Philippines has been given the privilege of chairing APEC in 1996, and will host the fourt Economic Leaders' Summit in Subic this coming November. As APEC chair and Summit host, the Philippines has an opportunity to exercise leadership in an international gathering and give APEC a strong push towards the achievement of its goal.

This book gives the reader a broad overview of APEC--its history, vision, characteristic traits, goals, and the mechanisms by which it plans to achieve those goals--that helps him appreciate the significance of the coming meeting in Subic.