APEC draft action plans finalized<\/p>\n
By Meidyatama Suryodiningrat & Prapti Widinugraheni<\/p>\n
MANILA (JP): Senior Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC)
\nofficials finalized a compilation of member countries' draft
\naction plans to realize the group's free trade and investment
\ngoals.<\/p>\n
Dubbed the Manila Action Plan for APEC (MAPA), the document is
\ndesigned to clearly spell out measures to break down trade
\nbarriers among the 18-member forum.<\/p>\n
MAPA's draft was completed by senior officials at an informal
\nmeeting which preceded the eighth annual APEC Ministerial Meeting
\nwhich starts today.<\/p>\n
After some additional fine-tuning, the ministers are expected
\nto adopt MAPA at their two-day meeting. Indonesia will be
\nrepresented at the meeting by Coordinating Minister for
\nProduction and Distribution Hartarto and Minister of Foreign
\nAffairs Ali Alatas.<\/p>\n
But the final MAPA and its details will not be unveiled until
\nthe APEC Economic Leaders Meeting in Subic on Monday.<\/p>\n
APEC comprises Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, China, Hong
\nKong, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Papua New
\nGuinea, the Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand
\nand the United States.<\/p>\n
In Bogor, West Java, in 1994, APEC leaders set 2010 and 2020
\nas the deadlines for comprehensive trade liberalization for
\ndeveloped countries and for developing ones.<\/p>\n
The actions plans will be compiled in four chapters.<\/p>\n
The first chapter will be a 46-page introduction and highlight
\nof the 18 members' action plans.<\/p>\n
The second chapter will be a compilation of the individual
\naction plans describing how each member country will carry out
\nliberalization, addressing traditional barriers to trade and
\ninvestment flows.<\/p>\n
The chairman of the senior officials' meeting, Philippine
\nUndersecretary Federico Macaranas, said undertakings to provide
\nan open investment regime included measures to liberalize and
\nfacilitate investment through improved transparency, technical
\nassistance and cooperation.<\/p>\n
Chapter three will highlight collective action to be taken by
\nAPEC to facilitate business and reduce regional business costs.<\/p>\n
Among the measures to be taken is a commitment to increase
\ntransparency in government procurement policies, procedures and
\nopportunities.<\/p>\n
\"Costs will also be reduced by simplifying, harmonizing and
\nmoving towards a paperless and computerized customs procedure,\"
\nMacaranas said.<\/p>\n
The final chapter highlights economic and technical
\ncooperation activities such as infrastructure development, small
\nand medium enterprises and human resources development.<\/p>\n
The head of Indonesia's delegation to the senior officials
\nmeeting, Soemadi Brotodinigrat, revealed that cooperation would
\nalso focus on developing a stable and efficient capital market,
\nand efforts to safeguard the quality of life through
\nenvironmentally sound growth.<\/p>\n
Indonesia<\/p>\n
Soemadi yesterday rejected suggestions that Indonesia's 37-
\npage action plan was too broad and vague on reducing tariff
\nbarriers in many sectors.<\/p>\n
\"What is being presented here is just the beginning... it is a
\nliving document,\" he said, adding that it would be continuously
\nrevised by member governments.<\/p>\n
Indonesia has basically stipulated a commitment to reduce
\ntariffs to between 5 percent and 10 percent by 2003.<\/p>\n
Soemadi, also the director general of foreign economic
\nrelations at the foreign ministry, acknowledged that if the
\nindividual action plans were compared to the final free trade
\nobjective they would be incompatible.<\/p>\n
But he said free trade was a long-term process and more
\nconcrete steps would be taken.<\/p>\n
The contents will not be the same when 2020 comes along, he
\nsaid, referring to the final free trade deadline.<\/p>\n
Soemadi said he was satisfied with the 18 individual action
\nplans: \"After it was all compiled, it was evident that there was
\na commitment from all the member economies.\"<\/p>\n
Senior officials meeting chairman Macaranas said he was
\nsatisfied the senior officials had fruitfully completed their
\ntask of drafting the MAPA.<\/p>\n
\"There was consensus that the work was finished on time and
\nthe challenge met,\" he said. (pwn\/mds)<\/p>\n
Test -- Page 4<\/p>\n
Protest -- Page 6<\/p>\n
Information -- Page 11<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/apec-draft-action-plans-finalized-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }